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I just got off the phone with my Uncle Benjamin who was telling me about my Native American Heritage. We're African American, but he's been trying to figure out a way to prove that he is Native American as well. Here's what i have:
-His Father is half Cherokee
-His Grandfather was French Indian
-His Grandmother was full cherokee and was born on an Indian reservation in Alabama

I have there names, but is their a way that i can trace birth records, or marriage liscences to show that we are part Cherokee? Do Native American Reservations keep seperate birth records, and if so, how can i access them. This would mean alot to my uncle, so any help will be greatly appreciated.

2007-02-06 12:37:45 · 6 answers · asked by fachizzzzle 3 in Arts & Humanities Genealogy

6 answers

They go by birth and census records, it will help greatly if the ancestors were registered with the tribe. To register with the tribe yourself you generally have to be 1/4 blood of that particular tribe. Many tribal councils actually have websites or at least offices you can contact for more information. Search google for "native American ancestry" or even better "Cherokee ancestry Alabama"

2007-02-06 12:44:15 · answer #1 · answered by Bored Enough To Be Here 6 · 0 0

It is not a matter of proving your Native American ancestry. That is already assuming that you have Native ancestry to speak of. It is verifying if the stories in your family are accurate or not. This is simply a matter of doing standard genealogy and finding out where your gg grandmother's family roots come from. Now, if you are claiming Choctaw fullblood status for a GG grandmother you have to understand the context involved. Most Choctaws were removed from their territory in MS/western AL in the early 1830s. Only a small number of fullbloods stayed behind in close-knit communities in central MS, a very tiny group ended up in Jena LA and there was small number that show up in other tribal communities that may or may not be federally recognized today…but here is the bottom line: the majority of the tribe went to Oklahoma. So, basically you are looking at two main groups today, Oklahoma or Mississippi. You have to be at least 1/2 blood to join the MS band. And to be an Oklahoma Choctaw means your family would be from Oklahoma (Choctaw Nation) and your ancestors have to be found on the final Dawes Roll. You would not be eligible for MS Band enrollment just based on the blood requirement alone, but as an FYI they use the reservation census of 1940 as their base roll. There is also the Cooper Roll that you can use to verify ancestors that may have stayed in MS after Removal (But this still requires building a family tree and knowing who your ancestors were). From your question I would assume you are a young adult or teen, and based on average span between generations, I would assume your GG grandmother was born around late 1800s to early 1900s. So, when you start doing your genealogy you should be finding your GG grandmother or her family living in tribal communities (e.g. Choctaw Nation/Oklahoma, or central Mississippi) during that general time period. They will be found on census records as "Indian" and listed on tribal rolls and records. As Joyce b pointed out, if you post her specific info people here will likely help you with a bit of the research. The caveat to that is you have to provide a full name and accurate supporting information like birth date or children/spouse/locations, etc.

2016-05-24 01:23:05 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Take a Native American ancestry DNA test. preferably patriclan since you are trying to find out about male relatives. They can cost anywhere from $200-$500.

2007-02-06 12:42:02 · answer #3 · answered by Virgo27 6 · 0 0

try the Bureau of Native American Affairs they should be able to point you in the right direction.

2007-02-06 12:43:45 · answer #4 · answered by reshadow31 3 · 0 0

I'm sure they have his grandmothers name carved in a rock somewhere on the reservations site there...just have to look for it.

2007-02-06 12:41:34 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0 2

DNA test, if you can afford it..

2007-02-06 12:42:33 · answer #6 · answered by MIGHTY MINNIE 6 · 0 0

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