How do I Find Out if I am of Native American Ancestry?
If you suspect that you have Native American ancestry, you will need to begin your search with your present family and work backward to locate the link. This is a time-consuming process, and difficult at times as there was a period in U.S. history when Indians, as they were commonly called, were not recognized as citizens and did not appear in official government records.
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Basic Genealogy
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When searching records, look for terms like American Indian, Indian, Native American, Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek and Seminole, as well as other tribal affiliations. Check with the National Archives in Washington, D.C., or online for any federal and tribal census records that may be housed there. Consult the Dawes Rolls if you already know your ancestor's tribe, and where your ancestor was in 1900. This and other tribal rolls are located in repositories such as the LDS (Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) Family History Library in Salt Lake City and other genealogical research centers or libraries.
Absence of a Name
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Since many Indians were not listed in official records, the absence of the name of a spouse when it is evident one existed may indicate that spouse was Native American. When a Native American spouse were listed, sometimes no tribal affiliation was noted.
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Tribal Affiliation
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If you are able to determine a possible Native American ancestor, you will next need to determine tribal affiliation. According to Ancestry.com, "The Indian Tribes of North America," written by John R. Swanton and published by the Smithsonian Institution Press, is a valuable tool with information on over 600 tribes, subtribes and bands.
DNA Testing
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Before beginning the arduous task of looking for an unnamed Native American ancestor, consider DNA testing to verify you carry genetic markers indicating Native American descent. If your haplotype does not match a haplogroup specific to one of those belonging to the Native American population, there is no blood ancestor that you are related to.
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References
Resources
- Photo Credit Indian Headress image by Stormy Ward from Fotolia.com
