I have had many emails requesting assistance in how to trace Native American ancestry. Because of these requests I have researched every link I could find on the internet and came up with some resources that may help anyone to start a research of their own on their family background and heritage.

To get you started on a research, here are some helpful tips:

1. The internet is full of sites that may help you find what you are looking for. I do not recommend or endorse any of them, but by viewing the ones that are marked safe, you should be able to find a helpful site. I simply typed 'tracing Native American ancestry' in the search box and came up with a lot of sites. The U.S. Department of the Interior has some very helpful tips and resources. It will be worth it to check that out.

2. Rather than trying to go back into the past with a certain relatives information, start with yourself and work backwards.

3. Vital information such as dates of birth, place of birth, location of birth, date of marriage, date of death, etc. is a must when researching for ancestors.

4. Get as much information from relatives as possible. Some relatives of yours may know a lot more than you think they do, but have just never been asked for information. Elders of a tribe can be a wealth of information.

5. Find out which tribe you may have descended from or at least the general geographical area. There are over 600 federally recognized tribes, so if you can narrow this down it will help immensely.

6. Look into federal census records. Since the early days of these records are not too detailed or reliable for Native Americans, look into the National Archives Record Administration (NARA) which will have reports from Indian agents in the BIA (Bureau of Indian Affairs). Check out the Regional Archives of NARA. They also have military records.

7. Look for any ancestors in tribal census rolls that Congress required after 1884, one of these is the Dawes Rolls.

8. Check out your local library for any books on families in your area from the earliest days to present and look for names, dates, etc. that might be a connection to yourself.

9. Check out any of the many Indian Boarding Schools for familiar family names. These schools began in the late 19th century and operated into the 20th century. There are also the government operated reservation schools which succeeded the boarding schools. School records can be accessed through NARA or tribal offices.

10. Write down every speck of information you can find that may relate to you and your ancestors. Keep a journal with all information from your research. When the time comes to actually begin your family tree, this information will be invaluable. Even if you just talked with an elder who remembered someone or some story about the family name, write that down. This journal you start and keep up to date will itself become a family heirloom and valuable gift to your own descendants. Smudge it as often as you feel the need to.

Ancestry.com is a good place to get started on your family tree. They offer a lot of tips and advice. Or, you can get some books at a library to see how family trees are organized then you can create your own. If you are creative and like to draw, you can add personal pictures of symbolic meaning to yourself and family, or enter poems or prayers for each ancestor. This is your family, your history, make it special!

Below are a few links where you can begin your research.

When you go to my home page at http://nativeamerican.bellaonline.com look under the Subjects list and scroll down to Genealogy. When you click on this a list of off site links will appear where you may find some help in your research. I cannot recommend or endorse any of them so you must use your own judgement there.

U.S. Department of the Interior - How Do I Trace Indian Ancestry?
www.doi.gov/ancestry.html

Native American Resources...
www.ihs.gov/misc/links_gateway/sub_categories.cfm?Sub_Cat_ID=0807

Indian ancestry for ...
www.doi.gov/ancestry.html

The web site http://www.firstpeople.us has suggested the following links:

http://www.native-languages.org/genealogy.htm

Some people also want to check via DNA and there are some sites that do this.
http://dna.ancestry.com/welcome.aspx is one of a number that do it.

http://www.usa.gov/Citizen/Topics/History_Family.shtml

There are also other sites that offer DNA testing. Look into these at your own discretion.

For more information than what I can give, you can purchase the following books through Amazon.com at the links below.

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