Native American Genealogy: 8-Week Course
Week 1: Introduction to Native American Genealogy
- Understand the need for cultural sensitivity and distinct methodologies.
- Explore tribal sovereignty and the historical impact of federal policies.
- Recognize the deeper cultural meanings of ancestry beyond family trees.
Exercise: Collect oral traditions, documents, and construct a basic timeline noting tribal or territorial references.
Week 2: Foundations of Researching Native Ancestry
- Document oral stories with source and detail precision.
- Begin traditional genealogical research to ground oral history in records.
- Identify geographic patterns and migration cues.
Exercise: Create detailed family group sheets with known data and investigate conventional sources.
Week 3: Records and Resources – Federal and Tribal Archives
- Use Dawes Rolls and Enrollment Cards to trace Five Tribes lineage.
- Access earlier tribal censuses for pre-Dawes data.
- Leverage Bureau of Indian Affairs records for detailed individual/family documentation.
Exercise: Locate ancestors in the Dawes Rolls; retrieve full enrollment files and verify against family records.
Week 4: Understanding Tribal Enrollment and Citizenship
- Learn distinct enrollment criteria of the Five Civilized Tribes.
- Understand cultural roles of citizenship beyond genealogy.
- Prepare applications with accuracy and respect for tribal authority.
Exercise: Identify the correct tribe and document lineage to qualifying ancestors using certified records.
Week 5: Using Online and Digital Resources
- Effectively navigate Ancestry, FamilySearch, and specialized platforms.
- Leverage tribal and government digital archives.
- Understand limitations of indexes and importance of validating sources.
Exercise: Conduct multi-platform ancestor searches and join a relevant Native genealogy online community.
Week 6: Cultural Awareness in Genealogy Research
- Respect tribal sovereignty and avoid cultural appropriation.
- Differentiate between genealogical and cultural identity.
- Recognize privacy and trauma concerns in Native histories.
Exercise: Learn about your tribe’s current initiatives and reflect on how your research might support them.
Week 7: Case Studies and Practical Applications
- Study real-world examples of successful and failed lineage research.
- Anticipate and manage common research challenges like name variants.
- Design your own structured genealogy project.
Exercise: Create a focused research plan around one Native ancestor, including sources and strategy.
Week 8: Final Projects and Presentation of Findings
- Assemble findings into a respectful, source-cited report.
- Prepare for tribal citizenship submission, if applicable.
- Consider legacy planning and ethical information sharing.
Exercise: Build a presentation/report with full documentation, cultural context notes, and a next-phase research plan.