How to Know If You Belong to Indian Tribes

Find out if you have Native American ancestry.

Curiosity about ancestral roots is a common occurrence among teens and young adults. If you know more about your family's history and your historical culture, you can feel more connected to the world and the people around you. Unfortunately, Native American family bloodlines can be difficult, but not impossible, to trace. Discovering your ancestry can be extremely rewarding, but you may need to exert some extra effort to find out whether you have Indian ancestry.

Things You'll Need

• Patience
• Persistence
• Internet access
• Access to local library

Instructions

1. Ask family members. The easiest way to find out whether you belong to an Indian tribe is to ask your parents. They likely know more about your family history than anyone else, so if you do belong to a tribe, they will be able to tell you which one and how. If your parents aren't sure, talk to your grandparents and other family members that might know more.

2. Conduct genealogy research. Try searching in your local library for information, or look through online sites such as the National Archives. Genealogy research is most successful when you know the names of people in your family of Native American descent; if you have no other way of finding out whether someone in your family was Native American, you may still be able to find out via this type of research, but your chances are slimmer.

3. Have your DNA tested. This is typically the most surefire way to tell whether you have Indian ancestry, but it can be expensive. Save this option as a last resort if your other research doesn't lead you anywhere.

References

• "A Student's Guide to Native American Genealogy"; E. Barrie Kavasch; 1996
• LearnWebSkills.com: Researching Your Family Tree
• Records Background: How to Find Native American Ancestry From Records
• National Archives: Native American Heritage

Resources

• Read this Article in Spanish