Unraveling Family History – How To Research Native American Genealogy

Tracing American Indian ancestors can be more challenging than with other ethnic groups. Working methodically backward from the present is essential, looking at home sources like family photos, old letters, family Bibles, and journals/diaries.

Also, look for local and state resources such as historical society collections, newspapers, USGenWeb county resources, and libraries with microfilm of church records of Presbyterian, Episcopalian, or Catholic missions on or near reservations.

Tribal Records

Although not everyone who claimed to be Native American was a member of a tribe or lived on a reservation, some of these people left behind valuable records. Tribal enrollment and land allotment records identify family members by name, their ages or birth dates, relationships to other tribal members, and additional information that can help researchers unravel the mysteries of their families. These records may be found on websites or at the local and state level through libraries and historical societies.

Another vital resource is the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which created numerous records at the federal level, including census counts and the Dawes and Guion Miller rolls. The National Archives holds many of these records, which can be located by searching the archive’s online catalog, PERSI.

The Department of the Interior offers a web page dedicated to native american genealogy research, and it features links to tribal genealogical sites, an index to available records and information, and resources and research workshops. The site also links many articles on conducting research in general and on specific topics, such as finding women’s names and researching enslaved people.

Census Records

It can be difficult to find proof of a Native American ancestor. Even when family stories name an Indian ancestor, it can be challenging to prove that person existed, especially with no records to support the claim.

Census records can significantly help when researching Native American genealogy, mainly if the ancestor lived in an area associated with a tribe or BIA agency. Often, these records will indicate which tribal group the ancestor was associated with and provide crucial demographic information such as age groups, locations, and population numbers.

These records are also vital when searching for a potential tribal member with whom to speak and document genealogical clues. Many ancestors who lived in an area associated with a tribe would have been recorded on a tribal census despite not having enrolled with a specific tribe.

An excellent resource for finding census records in Native American genealogy is the Department of the Interior website. This web page provides a brief guide for beginning research, lists organizations that conduct genealogy searches for a fee, and other helpful links, including annuity, allotment, application records, and history and biography resources. The page also explains the types of records available at the national archives and how to locate them.

Treaty & Annuity Rolls

The federal government sometimes negotiated treaties to buy land from Indigenous people for money, goods, or annuities. Annuity goods drew on traditional Indigenous practices of material diplomacy, which involved gifts, exchanges, feasting, and other tactile expressions of goodwill.

For Indian agents, acquiring, shipping, and distributing annuity goods became a major administrative challenge. When the goods did not arrive as promised or in the quantity ordered, the resulting disgruntlement created more problems for the agent handling the case.

Another set of records related to annuities and treaties are the citizenship enrollment cards or Dawes rolls. Using the cards and other documents, researchers can search for ancestors eligible for tribal membership in the five civilized tribes.

Researching Native American genealogy can be a complicated undertaking. Fortunately, many valuable resources are available to help researchers find the information they need. These include Bureau of Indian Affairs agencies and reservations, tribal governing bodies and organizations, libraries, archives and museums, cultural groups, and historical societies. This comprehensive guide provides tips on starting a search, identifying record types and helpful family and government documents, the differences between tribal and non-tribal registries and enrollment, benefits and services of being a tribal member, and more.

Ethnological Descriptions

Many of the same family history resources used to research other ethnic groups can also be helpful with Native American genealogy. Ethnological descriptions and maps can provide clues about the tribes that inhabited an area at a particular time. They can help identify specific Indian tribes whose membership was recorded in the Dawes Rolls. They can also help identify tribal members by the name their family and community knew them.

Interview extended family, neighbors, and friends to uncover information that might not be available in records. These interviews can be crucial if your ancestor was a Native American. They can be a wealth of information about the culture and traditions of the tribes your ancestors belonged to.

Family DNA tests can also be handy. Y-DNA and mtDNA can provide evidence of Native American heritage in your family tree. This may give you an idea of which side of your family to pursue in your research. It will also let you know if your linked relatives are full or partial Native Americans.

Local History Periodicals

Once you have identified a family story of Native American ancestry, the next step is to search for clues in records. Start with local resources, such as regional libraries and historical societies. Also, check out the genealogy and family history periodicals that cover your ancestor’s region. These can be found in online databases such as PERSI (searchable at most genealogical libraries).

The best way to determine the tribal origin of your ancestor is through a family story or an old photograph, but that is not always possible. It is a good idea to list what you want to find, such as the tribe and tribe name, residence, religion, occupation, or place of death.

Keep in mind that many Native American names are both traditional and anglicized or spelled differently from record to record. Use genealogical word lists and dictionaries available at most family search centers to help you with your searches. Additionally, many Indian forms were written in English or other European languages. However, a few were written in the Indian language. A specialized guide to beginning Native American research will be helpful, as well as books on specific tribes and their history.

State Records

When researching Native American genealogy, state records can provide clues to ancestor origins and family histories. This web page from NARA highlights state resources that can aid in this research, including BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs) agencies and reservations, census, church, military, schools, annuity, allotment, treaties, removal records, archives and libraries, and cultural groups.

If an ancestor was listed in the Dawes Rolls, these records can confirm a person’s tribal heritage. They also reveal if a person had a full, half, quarter, or less than one-eighth blood and other important genealogical information.

This guide from NARA focuses on Oklahoma tribes but also contains lessons about genealogical research and references to other online resources. It also lists books and articles that focus on research problem-solving, which can be very helpful in overcoming roadblocks during the process. The site also offers tips for locating and using church, cemetery, civil, and land records. It also lists state and local genealogical societies that may have additional information on an ancestor. It also notes that some websites require subscriptions or charge fees to view records. These costs should be considered when planning a budget.

Federal Records

The federal-level offers many records useful to Native American researchers. The National Archives has census records for every ten years starting in 1790, and they contain a wealth of information about individuals, including tribe, gender, age, and occupation. The site also includes records of tribal membership, allotment, schools, and removal.

The site explains the various types of records available at the National Archives and offers tips and tricks to help researchers maximize these resources. It also includes a list of helpful websites, books, and articles.

One of the most essential federal records to check for Native Americans is the Dawes Rolls, a list of those accepted into the Five Civilized Tribes (Cherokee et al.) or who received land allotments. This excellent guide from FamilySearch provides an in-depth tutorial on these roles and how to use them to find your ancestors.

When searching through these records, it is essential to remember that Native names are frequently structured differently from those of European origin, and they may have been anglicized by the record keepers for convenience or other reasons. This guide from NARA explains how to deal with these issues.