Federal Definition of an Indian:
An Indian is one who is a member or id eligible for membership in a federally recognized tribe by birth, adoption or family sanguinity.
The US Child Care Bureau
(our funding agency) broadly interprets this definition and places great value on the impact child care has on the total family. We are therefore allowed to provide child care subsidy for non-Indian children in intermarried family situations. For example, non-Indian step children of an Indian spouse may be considered eligible due to 'family sanguinity' providing that the step parent can show some proof of membership affiliation in a federally recognized tribe. Adoption is also an area where we have some latitude to include children who may be in the custodial care of an Indian family, but are not directly related by blood.