Family rumors have been passed down each generation which say we are part Cherokee, how can I prove it?

Question

I am seeking proof that our family is part Cherokee Indian and can not find that proof. I have tried to go back through family tree, but I have not been very successful. Is there an easier way? I heard the Daws Act could help, but I am not sure what to do with it. HELP us, we want it to be true. I also heard a blood test could do it. Does anyone know?

Answer 1

1st nearly every family has this legend.

Dawes Lists of the 5 civilized tribes can help

Some Census Data lists Indians as Mulatto

This confuses people.

You can go to familytreedna and test against others in your lineage. It is a swab test in the mouth , like a qtip and saliva

There are several Good websites,

Trace yours tree and look for evidence in all the Indian rolls and tribe lists.

I can tell you just because this was passed down does not mean it was true, there were times in history when people want to believe that, and they would also use that as a way to

cover over other mixed race evidence.

Answer 2

Me not know, kind sir.

Answer 3

No doubt if an ancestor is listed in the Dawes Roll, it would suffice.  However, as I understand it, you must be AT LEAST 1/8 to claim it for political reasons.  In other words, AT LEAST one of your grandparents MUST HAVE BEEN "PURE" INDIAN. Any farther back than that does not count.

Yes, a DNA test would confirm that you are/are not part Cherokee.  However, as I understand it, this does not count as far as trying to establish claims of any monies going to Native Americans.

I used www.familytreedna.com, which says I am part Native (several tribes) as well as part Innuit and part Eskimo (and part just about everything else).  In my case, it was 5 or 6 generations ago, so does not count for monetary claims of any sort.  Including tuition assistance, grants, etc.

Answer 4

Complex question that has three parts...

1.  Cherokee tribal member - this requires tracing a family member - direct descendant - back to the roll acknowledged by the nation of choice - Western Cherokee out of Tahlequah, Ketowah Cherokee of the Ozarks, Eastern Cherokee of western North Carolina. If you can't prove this, you can't be accepted - under present regulations - as a tribal member.

2.  Cherokee by blood.  You may not be able to prove tribal membership but still be Cherokee.  There are many people that fall into this category because of the way life happened, citizenship choices by their parents, or being born in the wrong time period.  This should not halt your search.  A wonderfully helpful book is Cherokee By Blood.  Buy it, it's cheap, and will teach you more, faster, than any answer you'll get elsewhere.  

3.  It's understandable some "want" certain things to be true (your words, not mine).  It's essential that you use objective research to document your true heritage, not what you "want". On the other hand, if the link is there, and you are earnest, you will find it.  Best wishes in your search...  There are some great websites out there that can help you.

Answer 5

The blood test at Familytreedna.com or another genetology site would help.  Finding your relatives on the census would help.  Check www.ancestry.com for some more records.

However, sometimes the rumor that a person was part Cherokee might be used to hide another type of ancestry.  You may be part Asian - as in Chinese.  This was considered by whites at the time to be worse than to be part black, in the past in some parts of the United States.