Researching Your Ancestry | |
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Purpose of Membership and Enrollment Individuals seek tribal affiliation for a variety of reasons - the preservation of culture and traditions, financial aid for college, health care benefits…Requirements for tribal membership are determined by the individual tribe and usually set forth in the tribal constitution and ordinances. Sources of Information The following information has been gathered from a variety of sources including information provided by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) and the Reference Encyclopedia of the American Indian, 9th edition, by Barry T. Klein, Todd Publications, NY, copyright 2000. Making Contact It is suggested that when making contact with organizations or individuals you do so in writing so they have a copy of the information you are looking for in front of them when responding, and you have a copy of who you have contacted and received a response from. Remember to include your name, mailing address, and e-mail address if applicable. This is particularly important when requesting information via e-mail since many people's alias' are not their name. On Your Own Do not begin your research in Indian records. Start with yourself and work backward. If you're not currently a member of a federally recognized tribe, research should begin in public, non-Indian records. Vital information includes names, dates, and places. Check governments, churches, schools, hospitals, birth certificates, death certificates, marriage certificates, baptism records, bibles, local cemeteries, town records, tribal records, military records, public and university libraries, newspapers, etc. Civil records such as deeds, wills, and property conveyances may also be helpful. Look for family diaries, letters, scrapbooks, pictures, and baby books. Talk to older relatives who may have information that will probably be lost when they pass on. Other family members may be working on your family history as well, check and work with them. Public and university libraries are good sources of information on specific Indian tribes as well as information on how to do genealogical research. Information regarding private genealogical organizations may be available as well. Sources of Contact The
State Bureau of Vital Statistics The
Bureau of the Census Federal Center The Family History Library of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Mormons) Web
sites: The
National Archives Records and Administration The Native American collection contains special censuses, school, and allotment records. Request microfilm publication (M1791) titled American Indian Censuses, The Special Census of Indians, 1880. A brochure describing the branch offices as well as the free leaflet Genealogical Records in the National Archives is available upon request. Bureau
of Indian Affairs List
of Federally Recognized tribes: 63 Federal Register, No. 250, page 71941 which
is available at most libraries or on the World Wide Web under "Federally
Recognized Native American Tribes, 12/30/99". The
Board of Certification of Genealogists The Association of Professional | |
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