For many tribal nations, the pandemic also brought an increase in population

CNN – Shortly after the coronavirus spread across the United States, it became clear that the pandemic was going to hit parts of the Indian country hard.

But after the worst of the crisis, several tribal nations saw a positive trend: population growth.

The Navajo Nation’s enrolled citizens rose from about 306,000 to nearly 400,000 last year – a 30% increase that recently placed them ahead of the Cherokee Nation as the most populous tribe in the United States.

Other tribes also saw an increase, albeit less dramatically: The Cherokee and Choctaw nations also reported an increase in school enrollment above normal levels.

That people who were not previously enrolled with a tribe are now seeing the benefits of it isn’t particularly surprising, said Desi Small-Rodriguez, assistant professor of sociology and American Indian studies at the University of California, Los Angeles.

“Tribes have risen to be places of power and authority, caring for their citizens who local, state and federal governments don’t have,” she said. “I think people recognize that and acknowledge that.”

Here’s what experts and officials believe are behind the surge in enrollments – and what a bigger number could mean for indigenous nations.

Tribes offered security and resources

The registration process is one way tribes can preserve their culture and traditions while maintaining their sense of belonging.

Because tribes are their own sovereign nations, each has their own registration requirements, as well as rights and obligations associated with being a tribal citizen.

But even if someone is eligible for tribal citizenship, there are a number of reasons they might not have enrolled, Small-Rodriguez said.

Some people may not see a need to sign up because they don’t live on a reservation or don’t feel connected to their origins. Some may already have access to adequate benefits and services through their work. And others may not have gotten around to filling out the paperwork yet.

Whatever the reason, the pandemic caused a lot of people to rethink.

Perhaps the most obvious benefit of registering with a tribe during the pandemic was access to additional financial assistance.

Through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, and the American Rescue Plan, tribal nations received billions of dollars to give to their citizens, whether through direct payments or in the form of housing, childcare, or other aid.

The Navajo Nation used some of its initial Covid-19 bailout funds to make payments of approximately $ 1,350 to registered adults and $ 450 to registered children, and tribal lawmakers have proposed a second round of review. Similarly, the Cherokee Nation recently announced that it would pay $ 2,000 to each enrolled citizen.

“There are resources at stake – actual material resources and material aid – that can really change people’s lives now and in the long term,” said Small-Rodriguez.

Tribal leaders also pointed out how she was handling the pandemic and the sense of security she cultivated in her communities.

With federal, state and local leaders unable to find a unified response to contain the pandemic and face masks became another focal point in the culture wars, the tribes took matters into their own hands.

The Navajo Nation was one of the hardest hit communities in the country. But it put in place strict bans to contain the spread of the virus, and its mask mandate stayed in place long after Arizona relaxed face-covering rules. When vaccines began to roll out, the tribe worked quickly to build trust and run mass vaccination campaigns.

By last week, the tribe estimated that at least 70% of Navajo residents were fully vaccinated – the threshold for herd immunity.

All of these factors, said Navajo Nation President Jonathan Nez, contributed to the increase in enrollment for the tribe – as well as an influx of Navajo into urban areas returning to their home countries.

“They equate enrollment and coming home with security from the virus,” said Nez.

Their leadership also aroused pride

The Cherokee Nation has enrolled more than 13,000 new citizens since early last year, with a total population of nearly 393,000 now, according to a tribe spokesman.

Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. attributes the surge in part to the pride he believes people have felt over his administration’s Covid-19 response, whether on the testing front or the strain’s early success in administering it Vaccines.

But it goes deeper, said Hoskin. The Cherokee Nation has built a resilient health care system over the past decade and has made significant investments in public education and housing in recent years – moves Hoskin believes will appeal to many of those recently enrolled.

“I think they think a government should do that and a lot of people in this country are looking for that kind of support,” said Hoskin. “Cherokee Nation believes we should play a role in these areas.”

The Choctaw Nation, whose population has grown from about 192,000 to more than 204,000 since the pandemic began, cited several factors driving the tribe’s population growth.

Some of those reasons came in handy, Randy Sachs, the tribe’s public relations director, told CNN. Families simply had more time during the pandemic to compile the documents required as part of the citizenship application. And concerns about when Oklahoma would begin issuing Real ID-compliant driver’s licenses may have prompted others to apply for a tribal citizenship card for domestic air travel.

Other people were driven by ancestral pride. Sachs said the Choctaw Nation had seen a “significant surge” in filings following the Supreme Court ruling in the McGirt v Oklahoma case, which found that much of eastern Oklahoma was Native American land for federal purposes .

“Perhaps they didn’t consider the benefits before, but they now see the value of what it means not just to be part of a family, kin, or community, but to be part of a sovereign nation with government laws, that has jurisdiction, that has power and authority, “said Small-Rodriguez.

More citizens could lead to more political power

Higher enrollment numbers could potentially allow tribal nations to get larger allocations from the federal government, though Hoskin said the tribes would still be underfunded by Congress even after adjusting for population growth.

It also means tribes are responsible for more people and need to make sure their services can meet demand.

“We must continue to be there for every citizen,” said Hoskin. “I think it’s going to be a drain on our budgets in some ways, but that’s stress that we welcome because we should be helping all Cherokee people.”

Meanwhile, more enrolled tribal citizens could lead to more political power.

In Arizona, Navajo voters helped change the state for Democrats in last November’s election.

“I think this shift, which is happening at the national level, where tribal peoples are finally recognized for their contribution to our free land, could set a tone for even greater tribal influence in this country,” he said.

Ultimately, said Small-Rodriguez, more tribal citizens are a signal that indigenous peoples are still here on this land – and only getting stronger.

“The very fact that we have more enrolled citizens who can carry on with what it means to be a registered citizen is a very powerful example of indigenous resistance and survival in the face of any attempt to wipe us out,” she said.