After Dr. Carl Seltzer's “blood study” determined that only 22 Indians qualified as 1/2 or more Indian blood, Robeson County Indians tried to see that these individuals were certified by the Secretary of the Interior. There was correspondence between John Collier, Commissioner of Indian Affairs, and Siouan tribal members S. M. Belle, James F. Chavis, and Joseph Brooks. On December 12, 1938, William Zimmerman (Assistant Commissioner of Indian Affairs) wrote Joseph Brooks informing him that they were certified but were not entitled to any rights and status as members of an Indian tribe, since the government was not holding any land in trust for the Siouans