November 18th, 2018 Last Updated on: March 2nd, 2022
Researching your Native American heritage can be a complex task. One of the most difficult parts is finding out what tribe your family is from.
Today you can use DNA testing to show you have some Native American blood, but determining what tribe that blood is from can take more time and effort.
Start At Home
You might not need to stress yourself out over a little thing your uncles or parents might have an answer to. So, ask them questions. If your grandparents are still living, ask them about your family background. Generally, they have more knowledge about that than you do. Branch out to other family members. You might find someone else has already done the research before you.
Use the Internet
There are more genealogy websites every day. Do not overlook them. These websites have a huge database of different tribes and their ancestors. You might be lucky to find your family tribe by using one of the sites. Many people have found what tribe they belong, thanks to the internet.
Genealogy is complex. Finding your family tribe might take more than surfing the web.
You will likely need to consult other media too.
Visit Local Libraries, Archives, and Repositories
Libraries are still relevant in this world of electronic PDF books and journals. You can’t substitute the information a library or a repository will give you. You can use local libraries to get facts about one tribe or the other. Also, the library can help you find some books on how to conduct genealogical research of your family tribe. Check for local resources, too. For example, the Mormon Church has extensive genealogical research.
Federal Archives
National Archives and Records Administration has a ton of information that you cannot even consume half of it. You should consider going through some of NARA’s records because they have a lot of information that is focused on Native Americans/ NARA isn’t the only place you can get some needful information. You can as well visit prestigious college libraries.
Hire A Genealogist
Sometimes you have to ask for help!
When you have followed these steps and still haven’t found your tribe, the next thing would be to pay a genealogist to do the job for you. The good news is that you already have an idea of the genealogical process. Your knowledge will come in handy when the genealogist begins work. You can choose to hire the genealogist to trace the tribe to which you belong, or you hire him/her to work with you on the project you have at hand.
Read our tips on hiring a genealogist.
Find more information on Native American heritage with our other articles.
Native American Genealogy Articles on PowWows.com
- How to get started tracing your family history?
- Top 5 Tools for Tracing Your Family History
- DNA Results vs Tribal Enrollment vs CDIB – What do they all mean?
- What is the Tribal Enrollment process?
- Top 5 Tips to Using Ancestry.com for Native American Info
- How to use the Dawes Roll to trace your American Indian Ancestry
- What you should know about DNA Testing for Family History Research
- How Much % Do I Need To Be For Each Tribe?
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I was involved in a CPS case where all my kids were taken and adopted after I reported to the court that I have Indian in my family and from my grandparents. The court came back and said I wasn’t and again adopted my kids, even though I completed the case plan etc.
My case went to the supreme court and they ruled IF I can ever find my tribe I could register and ask my case to be heard in Indian Court and the order to terminate my parental rights can be voided and my kids could come home if the Indian Court rules they can.
To this date I have taken a Native American DNA test which confirmed I’m 33 percent American Indian. I then hired a genealogist who did my tree and charged me 2350.00 and recommended that I go higher because nothing was found, I then paid another 1700. to go higher and that is the best way to find my tribe. They both concluded I am more than likely American Indian.
I am so tired and feel so powerless because I can’t find someone who will really help me resolve this. I’m at the point where I just want to hire an actual honest ethical Indian Genealogist who will really help me. I feel so heart broken and know that if our current President and Government knew that my native American heritage has been ignored and this big mistake has been made and my kids adopted there would be outrage I believe.. however I just want my kids to come home and get on with my life. Does anyone have any advise on how I can resolve this. Thank you.
My great Grandfather was born into a tribe in either Canada or Michigan U.S in the mid to late 1800’s. His mother was supposedly a squaw from a tribe there and she died in childbirth. His father brought him to live with his parents and family in Bay City MI but no other information was given. I had heard a name used when I was little and the closest I can come to what I thought I heard was Ojibwe but like I said I was still a child and I am not 100% sure if that is what I heard. Can someone help me?
my mother and her father were both born in coopersville michigan my grandfater was born in 1874 and my mther was born in 1904
I recently did a 23andME recieved precentage but no idea what tribe. I would love to introduce my boys to our roots.
DNA cannot tell you if you have native blood. You need it researched by a professional Indian Genealogist.
You can email me and I can help you!
You can check out my website and initiate your Indian research there and/or contact me with any questions.
Dee
I’m curious if you can share Dee’s contact information with me.
Can I please have Dee’s contact information?
Hello Dee , Maybe you can help me. I also did the 23andMe DNA test and it came back a percentage of Native American , How can I find out what tribe my family’s from? Thank You
I would like to know more about my kids and I heritage, my youngest daughter is 56.3 percentage of Native American, and to she has Mayan in her. My oldest daughter is 54.6 percentage Native American but has Aztec in her pueblo/Taos and other specify natives in them both but want someone to explain and help me out where to look and find more info. Would like to know of help for them to recieve benefits of their tribes if possible to find. Thank you and I am mother I have Cherokee in me want to learn more of that as well
Does anyone have any information on a tribe called WEA? I was told by different family members that My grandmother was from the WEA tribe and also the REDPATH. Im not sure if they are from the same tribe or if they are 2 different tribes. I know my great great grandmother came from around the Wabash River in Northern Indiana and later generations settled in and around Terre Haute, Indiana. I know a little bit about the Wea ,but I cant find anything about REDPATH. Please help! THANK YOU!
So, I am a 17 yr old female with brown hair and hazel eyes, and I know my grandfather on my mothers side was 100%, and my grandmother on my fathers side was 57%… What would that make me? I would like to know because I don’t know who my grandparents are, or my parents really well..
I just found out im 26% native Indian. So im am very proud of this im from Victoria, Texas and was wondering if anybody know what tribe would have settled here!
My Dad was born and raised in Victoria his last name was Tijerina and i am 48 % native american and iwant to know what tribe i came from
Karankawas settled in Victoria Texas
My dad’s name is Michael Moore I’m looking for a john ,Jake Moore from my was married to a Sarah Caldwell Moore)my dad was born in 1951,my grandpa William c bell had a igoure idian mother what percent am I and who was my great grandma,who was Moore cheif
My great grandmother lived in Canada with my great grandfather George Park. My great grandmother was 100% indian but I don’t know her name or where they lived for sure.