Am I Native American? How to Find My Indian Ancestors – Native American Genealogy
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Finding Your Native American Heritage
Many people in the US and Canada have at least one Indian ancestral line in their family. Lots of people grew up hearing the family legend about a family member that was Native American. Proving that legend to be true or false can be tough. There is very little official records about early Native American. Starting your search on Native American Genealogy can be very challenging.
You will need to build a family tree using a multitude of resources. Research the deaths, births and marriages of your family. Use these records to build links from yourself back to your ancestors.
Next research documents that record Native Americans.
In some years the United States conducted separate censuses of Native Americans. In 1896 a Congressional law was passed that gave the Dawes Commission authority to oversee applications for tribal citizenship into the Five Civilized Tribes – Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, and Seminole.
Proving that you are related to a Native American is only the first step to being enrolled with a tribe. In the US there are over 500 federally recognized tribes. Each tribe has their own requirements for enrollment. Use our Native American Tribal Directory to contact your tribe for more information.
Start your search now!
Begin building your family tree by using Ancestry.com’s tool. Try Ancestry.com FREE with a 14-Day Free Trial!
Resources
- A Student’s Guide to Native American Genealogy Book
- Ancestry.com DNA testing
- Start Your Free Family Tree
- United State Indian Censuses
- Discuss your questions on our Native American Genealogy Forum
Native American Genealogy Articles on PowWows.com
- Guion Miller Roll of the Eastern Cherokee
- Final Roll of the Cherokee Nation and Freedman
- “…My Grandmother was a Cherokee Indian Princess…”
- Holdout, Doubtful and Reject of the Dawes Roll
TOPICS: Blog, Featured, Native American Genealogy, Native American History
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11 Responses to “Am I Native American? How to Find My Indian Ancestors – Native American Genealogy”
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My family members recently obtained DNA samples from our last living Aunt. Preliminary results show our Grandmother was Pima. Results on our Grandfather are pending. We have a census from 1940 which shows our grandparents and children listed as “indian”. How valad are these “proofs” if presented to enroll the family?
Most tribes require documented links to people on previous rolls like the Dawes Roll. DNA tests are a way to tell your genetic breakdown. But they are not considered legal proof for enrollment.
Recently my family obtained a DNA sample and submitted it for analysis. Premiminary findings showed our Grandmother to be of Pima origin. Our Grandfather is pending. We also have a 1940 census showing our Grandparents, Aunts, and Uncles as “indian” with no tribal indication. Our verbal history from our Grandparents is that, “We are Apache”. With the DNA and census info, would this be valid proof for enrollment?
Probably not. But each tribe has their own requirements. You need to contact the tribe for more details.
i just found out im 25% percent indan i grew up going to powows and i loved them
Zero history for me, only Pahsetopah side. Wha-Zha-Zhi
I know that my ancestors are Native American but no one is exactly sure of the tribe. Is there a way to find out by the way my great great grandmother was dressed in an old picture?
Take a look here – How do I research my Native American Heritage?
Read more: http://www.powwows.com/2012/07/27/am-i-native-american-how-to-find-my-indian-ancestors/