Native American bloodline questions.?

Question

According to my family, I'm about 1/4 Sioux (my maternal grandfather). However, I have very little information about his family other than old pictures and stories. Even a lot of the names are elusive, and the vast majority of that family is too old to remember specifics or have passed on. Based on the stories I know, it is likely that my Sioux bloodline was never actually on a reservation, and split and traveled away from the plains a very long time ago and settled in an area where Algonquins presently are (which makes me think that there may be Algonquin in with that Sioux). So how do you trace a splintered native bloodline? Also, I'd like to get in touch with those roots, maybe take a trip out to the plains and learn about the culture somewhat first-hand, see the area, etc., but am not sure how receptive the people would be to me. Any thoughts or ideas would be helpful. Thanks!

I would like to thank you *all* for your answers, in one way or another they've all been extremely helpful and valuable. I don't feel right picking a 'best answer' because every one of you have been great! Thank you all again so much for the help and advice!

Answer 1

To become enrolled in ones tribe one must be able to prove descendency. To do this you need last names. You can call the tribe and ask if last names are on their roll. Another option is to put an article in tribal newsletter with last names asking if anyone has relations. You would want to do this for the Sioux reservations/communties and the Algonquin ones as well. I have listed more info. below on how to do this.

If you are planning on taking a trip first get educated about your culture. Native people can be like any other people, welcoming or not so much. Being welcoming is part of the culture. Not be welcoming is because of continued oppression, racism, and ignorance (a way of protecting onself). The more sure you are of yourself the more you will be accepted. Also, the more educated you are on the culture the more you will be accepted. This way you don't make any culturally ignorant mistakes... In general though, you can count on being welcomed.

Other ways to get involved in your culture: you 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. Get involved in a Native organization or movement. Any one. This will help significantly and they will most definately be welcoming because they need the help!

By the way, I am Native, so I have some knowledge pertaining to this. You can email me if you'd like to:
[e-mail]


Information on how to become enrolled is listed below:

To become enrolled 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, their blood quantum standards are much less.

If you don't have contact with your tribal member 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 tribal member .

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.

Please remember ancestry is very difficult for many Native people.

Answer 2

If you are in fact 1/4 Sioux, then one of your grandparents was full Sioux (their child who was your parent would be 1/2, and thus you would be 1/4), or a couple of your great-grandparents were 1/2 Sioux each. That much would generally be something that a parent would know. If you don't have access to those recollections, then my best suggestions would be to start to trace your family tree.

Since you say that your Sioux ancestor is your maternal grandfather, it might also be possible to determine if he was a tribal citizen by contacting the Sioux Nation; not everyone who is a member lives on a reservation, by any means. Even if he wasn't a citizen, his parents or grandparents might have been; the more you know about that branch of your family, the more likely you will be to find some reliable information.

Good luck!

Answer 3

From personal experience (I'm from about five tribes- offiaclly Cowlitz) The best thing you can do is talk to people. Look for your last name in other indian tribe's enrollments. try to find family trees- that's where people tend to mark down 1/2 sioux, etc. If you want to get in touch with your native bloodline definetly try to be an enrolled tribal member- that is harder in some tribes than it is in others if your parents or grandparents weren't enrolled. But since the Sioux are a very large group of people one would think that they would have more open enrollment policies

Answer 4

I read a book some years ago, by a fellow by the name of Hyemeyohsts Storm, called "Seven Arrows", which goes through some of the stories and history of the Sioux nation.

There are also some websites dealing with ancestry / genealogy, which may be of assistance to you.

Although I'm not a Native American, I have respect for the cultures that came before us. I encourage you to investigate this as much as you can, and to go out to the Plains, to get in touch with your ancestors. It is very commendable to want to know who came before you, and to try to live your life, such that their sacrifices were not in vain.
Don't worry that people may "not be receptive". If you are seeking the Truth, doors will be opened to you.
Even if you feel fear, or nervousness, that's not a reason to not press ahead.
There is also a new museum of Native Americans in Washington DC, and there maybe someone there, who can give you some guidance.
It's worth a try, right?

Answer 5

Here is a site I have been on for a few years...Lakota (Sioux) people and others that are curious and wishing to learn the truths of things (not for new age or wannabe types). Respectfully asked questions are usually granted answers (unless it's a topic that should not be spoken of). So feel free to go introduce yourself and let them know you are curious to learn a bit about your heritage.

http://www.lakhota.com/bbs

As for tracing it...you just do like the rest of us in genealogy and just keep looking and hoping the right clues will eventually turn up.