(1) Request for Reconsideration. An individual who is aggrieved by a decision of the Tribal Council under this chapter may submit a written request to the Samish Tribal Council for review of an approval or rejection of any individual’s application for enrollment under STC 2.10.020(3), exclusion or nonexclusion from the base citizenship roll, removal of any person from the official citizenship roll under STC 2.10.050, or modification of a citizen’s blood quantum by the Tribal Council under STC 2.10.050(4). The Tribal Council shall have the first opportunity to review any action it has taken on these matters. Such request for reconsideration shall be filed with the Tribal Council Secretary within 30 days after the decision complained of, and considered at the next regular Tribal Council meeting unless postponed further.

(2) Standing to Appeal. Any person whose application for enrollment has been rejected, whose name has been removed from the roll, or whose blood quantum has been adjusted, by the Tribal Council, after an opportunity for reconsideration under subsection (1) of this section has been completed, may appeal such denial to the Samish Tribal Court.

(3) Filing. The appeal shall be filed with the Samish Tribal Court pursuant to the Tribal Court rules of procedure adopted by the Tribal Council. Failure to file an appeal within the deadlines set forth in those rules shall not bar an appellant from the discretionary remedy set forth in those rules shall not bar an appellant from the discretionary remedy set forth in subsection (4) of this section. All appeals shall be final except as provided for in subsection (4) of this section.

(4) Reconsideration of Applications. At its discretion, the Tribal Council may reopen old applications when new and substantial evidence is submitted to support the applicant’s position and when the Tribal Council determines that justice requires reconsideration. Unless the Tribal Council determines otherwise, citizenship granted after such reconsideration shall be prospective and not retroactive. [Res. 2023-09-003 § 1, 2023; Res. 2020-04-011 § 2, 2020.]