My understanding she opened a sort of tribal membership to those claiming "Indian Blood".

With those new "members" she was able to show enough residents to get better funding to bring up the schools that members attend, and kick start a wave of genuine sustained infrastructure, and cultural improvements.

I've been involved in native arts mostly traditional silver and turquoise jewelry. At my booths I've seen a dozen or more of these "members" proudly display their tribal affiliation, and I don't question their amount of genetic relation. They help the nations and I consider those people to be at least second cousins to the people.
Ah-Ho!