How do I find my Cherokee lineage?

Question

I'm black and Native American. I've been trying to find my lineage on my deceased fathers side. From what I understand, he was Cherokee and Blackfeet Indian. My uncle stated he really doesn't know much more than that. Who can I contact? My cousin, I found, stated to my brother that my grandfathers last name was Bronze Eagle, but he was adopted, so now we have the last name Brown.

Answer 1

check the Dawes Roll and see if you can locate him there. If you can then you've fought half your battle. From there you can probably obtain info from the tribal office. If he's not on the Dawes then there won't be info at the tribal office. Do you know where he was born? You can check the courts there for his adoption records.

Answer 2

Before you start associating with a particular "tribe" you need to do the genealogy. Starting with yourself, find as much information about your ancestors ie: birth, death, marriage records etc. Then you can begin to look for a possible link to Native American heritage. You need locations and dates to properly narrow down the possibilities. Many times one "tribe" would be in an area and at other times a different "tribe" would be in the same area. Once you narrow down the possibilities on which "tribe(s)" they MAY have belonged to then you can start looking for specific information as to which roll they may be on. Hey at least you didn't start out saying that your grandmother was a Cherokee Princess...LOL (no such thing)

Answer 3

The exact same way one would research one's Irish or French or other family history: each generation back through time and history from what data your living ancestors can give you. Next one orders genealogy copies of births marriages and deaths which will give one more generation back. Visit family cemeteries for dates and to see who is buried close by your ancestors that may be related. Take notes and digital pictures.

After entering all this information onto genealogy software for organization, begin searching census images for your ancestors. You should find your way back to the 1870 Census which may show persons born 1800ish.

At that point historical research may change for you. What you may find is that your ancestors at that point had been black slaves of Cherokees who were ordered by the US governent to give the black freedmen and women tribal membership. This will not be the northern plains tribe Blackfoot/feet, but an euphemism.

Answer 4

With his being adopted, it may be difficult. you will need a book called Cherokee Roots, and check out the rolls in the book. At what age was he adopted? He could be on the rolls of the Seminary or one of the boarding schools that Indian kids were sent too. Find out his county of birth and death and also check the census. Try to find out the names of the birth parents. Also, Google Cherokee cousins and ask them about alternative information.

Bear in mind that Blackfoot are also known as Saponi Indians and may be on the Cherokee rolls.

Answer 5

http://www.cherokee.org/Registration/Registration_App.pdf

http://www.cherokee.org/home.aspx?section=services&service=Registration

Here are some links to help you get started. Don't know where you are located or where your family came from, but if it is possible, you might want to take a trip to Cherokee, North Carolina, to the Museum there and talk with the people there -- they are great folks and may be able to help.

http://www.cherokeemuseum.org/

Answer 6

do you have any idea what clan he belonged to?
That might help a lot; redbird, deer.....
If it is Chickamaka, good luck.
My mom has done research on it.
Your best bet is to talk to people in your family. and try to trace the geneology on line