I need help finding out my Indian Heritage! Please help!?

Question

I would like to know how to get documentation proving my Indian heritage. My great grandfather was full Indian and his wife was partially Indian. Unfortunately we know little about them and have no papers, and they have obviously passed on by now. I was hoping to get a dna test done to see my percentages. Do you know of a good place to get that done at?

Thank you for your time, I really appreciate your effort.

Answer 1

http://americanindian.net/cherokee.html

this is for the Cherokee, but the basic is similar.  You first have to get your documentation of who the ancestor was, and VERIFY if they were enrolled.  Research goes through normal routes (you won't find if they are enrolled, unless you have identifying information).

Once you have the research.. don't count on them being enrolled or on lists.. many persons chose to not enroll.  

DNA is not accepted for tribal purposes.. but it can show NA genes.  

Answer 2

Here's a great site on how to research your indian heritage and the rolls you will need to find a direct ancestor.

http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/ro...

In order to register with a tribe you must find a direct ancestor on one of the rolls.  If you have a brother or cousin or uncle that is a direct descendant of your great grandfather, have them do the Y-DNA test as this could show Indian Heritage.  If a female does the MtDna test it goes from mother to mother to mother, etc. and goes back to the origins of your line, and would show like mines does, that i'm from one of the 7 daughters of Eve, which won't help with your Indian Heritage unless you find an exact match with another person.  It's easier to find a match with male DNA.

Answer 3

You do not have enough information to say which DNA test will be helpful. If you are Native by your matrilineal (mother's mother's mother) line, then you can have your mtDNA or mitochondrial DNA tested. If you are Native by your patrilineal (father's father's father) line, then you can have your y-DNA or Y chromosomal DNA tested. It it switches back and forth, you can have your autosomal DNA tested. None of these are perfect or even always accepted forms of documentation. Some tribes accept such documention for some purposes and not others. The BIA has its own standards as well. If you are doing this for genealogical purposes, you get to set the standard. Personally, I believe in DNA over paperwork every time.  

Answer 4

DNA test won't work really. All it would say is 'Native American' or something like that. Is that what you mean? Or are you talking about India Indian? Not sure how DNA test works for people from India.

You should be able to trace your genealogy back to these relatives with some research though. Then you can check the tribe that they were members of- they should have your great grandparents names on their tribal rolls. If you know their ages/bdays and tribe already you can check with the tribe first I guess, either way.

ETA_ the tribe can give you documentation of some sort I'm sure. Its not good for much though except cultural reasons and stuff like that- there's no free land left on the rez sorry:)

edit again- the dna test can tell if you are native american and maybe give percent but it only goes through one specific line. For women the test is going to tell you only about the female line like moms moms mom, if you have a brother or other male relative they can get tests for both paternal and maternal lines I think. Not all the markers they say are for 'native americans' really are though- plenty of other people have those same markers. The tests are not really 'documentation' in any legal sense but interesting I guess:)