Where can I find info on tracing my American Indian Mohegan geneology?

Question

I am part Mohegan we believe from family letters, but need a database of names from the mid-to-late 1800s & early 1900's to reference or a contact with that tribe's records. Their Reservation is in CT.

Answer 1

To becomenenrolled in one's tribe is often a difficult process. Once one is enrolled one will have certain rights as a Native person. It is true that no one needs to prove their ethnic identity but to have full access to rights for Native people one must be enrolled.

To become enrolled one must first should call one's tribe and find out the enrollment requirements. They are different per tribe.
For most tribes you have to prove descendency and have a certain blood quantum. To prove descendency one needs to have some record of her belonging to a member of the tribe that was recognized by the tribe at some point, hopefully an individual that was enrolled at some point. The average blood quantum standard is 1/4. Unless you are Cherokee, they pretty much accept any blood quantum.

If you don't have contact with your father then you can ask the tribe to look for his last name. They can look this up and see if his family line is registered. If so then your in luck. If they don't immediately find it then you can use the tribal newspaper and submit an article asking if anyone has lineage to your father.

Many Native people can never become enrolled because standards of enrollment are high and were set up by the White government to oppress Native people and Native people have yet to change them.

To become more involved in one'sculture one might want to look up local Native organizations or local tribes. Try going to Pow-wow's (because they are easy to find) and talk to community members there. Many colleges/universities have a Native student union where one can get involved or get more information.

Please remember ancestry is very difficult for many Native people.

By the way, I am Native, so I have some knowledge pertaining to this.

Answer 2

The Mohegan and Mocihans are two closely related tribes of N.Y.and Conn. Most tribes are meticulous about their tribal genealogy because it relates to who may be eligible for membership in a tribe. Percentage of Native American blood can vary tribe to tribe it's usually 1/4 or 1/8 some more or less. There some data bases on line. You can probably find some links through www.rootsweb.com. Try contacting the Mohegan rez for more info.

Answer 3

Hey B Davis,

You need to go to the Mohegan Sun Casino, really. There are museums associated there and at Foxwoods with the Mohegan indians. Of all the tribes to be associated with, you have a winner - simply because they have the money to spend to accumulate records, do the research and get history together. Below are some of the sites available, the first is the official tribe site.

Answer 4

Ive been trying to trace my family history on my mothers side, who is Cherokee Indian. It is tough!! I can trace any other line all the way back to the the 1400s but I cant seem to get through four generations with the Cherokees. I have used alot of websites in general but nothing specific that I know to help you with that tribe. I will list two of them anyhow, because with so many families that are on, you never know who will merge in to your own family history. Try it if all else fails. Good luck!

Answer 5

Contacting tribes, particularly reservations will help. Many people like to build a provenance of their heritage as it entitles them to any profits from the res (like the casinos some have or the oil fields found on others). And yes, it's Mohican wherever I've read the name.

Answer 6

Well I usually refer to them as Native American because they are not Indian. Indian refers to someone who is from India. I was told that this is the correct term to call them. I also agree about the Black American. I am American a Black American of African ancestry. So Black American would be more fitting.

Answer 7

Uh... just to check... I hope you already have the "basic" research, with names, dates, places? With pretty solid documentation?
Many families have traditions passed down regarding Native american ancestry, and in some cases, it is wishful thinking.
Among the best sources for that time frame, is the census records. This is going to provide you with approximate dates of birth, and in 1880, the person will show their place of birth as well as their parents.
Please forgive me if you have all of this.

Answer 8

Why dont you contact the tribe. And learn how to spell Mohican while you're at it.