Depending on your family history, oral or written, you may have Native American ancestry. DNA testing with mtDNA and Y-DNA can help to confirm this based on shared haplogroup segments.
So, how to find Native American ancestry records? Research tips for tracing Native American genealogy include searching records arranged by tribe and looking through local newspapers. You may also want to start with the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Start with Your Family History
Many individuals seeking to trace their Native American ancestry turn to family history first. This is a great place to start since the information you gather will help to focus your search. Talk to your family, review old deeds, Bibles, scrapbooks, and photo albums, and try to find the names of any ancestors you know are Native American. Document and record as much information as possible while it is still available because people do not live forever, and memories fade over time. Sharing this information through a website or blog is a good way to preserve it for future generations.
Your genealogical research will lead you to search various government records for your ancestors, including Indian rolls, censuses, applications, enrollment cards, and annuity and allotment records. However, if your ancestors did not register with any tribe or fully assimilate into the community around them, it may be difficult to prove that they have Native American heritage. Y-DNA and mtDNA testing can provide clues, but more evidence is needed. You will also want to create a family tree and note the important details you have collected.
Check the Tribal Records
There’s a good chance your family has ties to a tribe. You can check with the tribal office for enrollment records, oral histories, and more. You can also look for these records in libraries and at regional, state, or historical societies, especially those with collections from where your ancestors lived.
These repositories should have books and periodicals on the region, including genealogical and local history publications. The Periodical Source Index (PERSI) is a good place to start, available at genealogical libraries.
Check the Federal Records
Once you have your family tree established and know the name of a known Native American ancestor, start investigating Federal records. These include census collections, allotment rolls, and other digitized Federal Indian records.
An ancestor’s name may appear in these records with two spellings – a native name and an anglicized one. This is because enumerators wrote the names down exactly as they sounded, which could result in several different spellings. This is why it’s important to research your ancestor’s entire family history, including their anglicized names.
For more information, see the Department of Interior’s Guide to Genealogical Research and Tribal Enrollment. The National Archives also offers a variety of resources to help researchers with their searches, including special censuses, school records, and allotment records. Also, check with your local library to see what books and other resources are available. They may also have a genealogy collection or provide workshops on Native American genealogical research.
Check the State Records
While many individuals have Native American ancestry, not all have the necessary proof for tribal enrollment. Suppose a family member has documented proof of Indian heritage. In that case, they may qualify for membership in the tribe of their ancestors, and the resulting vital statistics records will help you create an unbroken chain that demonstrates your ancestor’s relationship to the tribe.
You can locate records of Native Americans in state offices and libraries. These resources can help you identify your ancestor’s tribe, as well as their location and period. You can also check with local historical societies or libraries specializing in genealogical research. They can recommend books, publications, and other resources on your ancestor’s region.
If your ancestor lives on a reservation, you can check for records with the Bureau of Indian Affairs or the Department of the Interior. The census records are useful, but it is important to remember that the enumerators recorded names as they sounded. The spellings in the records are phonetic and will require browsing from page to page.
Check the Local Records
The local records can be a rich source of information in Native American genealogy. Family papers, school, county, and church records can reveal much about a Native American ancestor’s life. These records can also provide clues about tribal affiliation.
Many Native Americans lived in towns and cities before being “removed” from their traditional lands. Their descendants may have found jobs in the white communities, and their children may have married outside the tribe. This can make it difficult to prove membership.
Local libraries and historical societies often have genealogy and regional history periodicals that can contain sought-after information on local tribes.
Check Your Research Methods
There are a few unique issues to be aware of when tracing Native American genealogy. First, if your family told stories about a tribal connection, identify the source of the information. This could be a member of the tribe, or it may be someone who knew about the story and passed it on to you.
Secondly, you’ll need to be familiar with some special documents. For example, if an ancestor owned land that the BIA later took, they might have been involved in a lawsuit to determine property ownership. The resulting heirship case files can contain golden nuggets of information.
You can find these documents by using a search engine and searching for “Indian heirship case files.” You can also search the PERSI index, available at genealogical libraries and through a subscription to ancestry.com, for genealogy and local history periodicals published in the region where your ancestor lived.