Should I believe that I have some Native American ancestry in me?

Question

No offense to white people, but many claim to have Native American in them, and my mother says she thinks her grandma was Native American, but I have a hard time believing that. I don't want to be like one of those people saying I am part Native American, when really I'm not. I don't know how to tell if I am. She says her grandma had dark hair and dark skin, but I'm not sure since I've never seen a picture.Her dad looked light though. She said he had a widow's peak and high cheek bones, which I don't know what the purpose of those are. He is full English, but if his mom is Native American, then obviously it would make him half, or a quarter. How would I find out?

Answer 1

As the other answerer said pictures are about the best way. few written records were kept. I have pictures of my great grandmother and her siblings. I'm lucky to have a neighbor who is almost pure Eastern Cherokee and is very knowedgable on the subject. She told me that my ancestors were obviously Eastern Cherokee, Mostly facial features, but even at that late date they still had on some identifying clothing and jewelry. If you think your possible ancestors might be Cherokee there is a book available on the internet "Cherokee Roots By Bob Blankenship. It has cencus rolls on Eastern and Western Cherokees.You might talk to a collge and get some help. My neighbor that i mentioned is a professor. and she was very glad to help.my grand mother was dark complected and showed Indian charictaristics. I don't because  of a lot of red haired milk skinned Irish heritage. Good Luck! the search can be fun as well as determining some of your actual heritage.

Answer 2

Here are some clues...do you live in a teepee? Have a hankering for corn and buffalo meat? Spend a lot of time in casinos? dance in circles all night after consuming fire water?

Then you might be a redneck..eh redskin...

Answer 3

IF you really want to know if you have Native American heritage, have a DNA test done.  It will tell you where your mother's line is from (all the places) and your father's line (again, all the places). It won't tell you where your mother's father's line is from or your father's mother's line...ONLY STRAIGHT LINE, mother to mother or father to father.

The female lineage is tested through the mtDNA and the male lineage is tested through the yDNA test.

Unless a "white person" is of recent immigration, they most likely DO HAVE NATIVE AMERICAN ancestry.  I do. Several tribes, plus Eskimos and Innuits.

I have found one Indian through paper trail (back to the mid-1700s). The others were through DNA testing.

I used www.familytreedna.com, the oldest and best.  Family Tree also does DNA testing for the National Geographics Genotype Program (which see).

DNA is a funny thing; recessive genes do come out now and again. One of my brothers has red hair; the rest of us are dark brown (turning black as we age).

So, if you do NOT KNOW FOR CERTAIN through paper trail, opt for the DNA; it is nearly 100% accurate (and popular, judging from the CSI series on TV).

Answer 4

Can you trace your ancestry, c is your Grandmother still around to ask if her mother was native American? My great grandmother was full Blood Cherokee and that would make my grandmother 3/4 and my mother 1/2 and myself 1/4 blooded Cherokee Indian, and believe me, you would not know it ot look at me, I also have Scottish/Irish and German and i look more German with dark blond hair blue/green eyes, my mother has olive skin and almost black hair to her bottom, and eyes so dark green they look brown. so you can't always tell my pictures, i do have high cheek bones, but that doesn't prove I'm native American, trace your linage. my family jokes that I'm the milk mans kid.Loi!

Answer 5

what's the point?  if you find you have native blood in you are you planning on moving to the rez?  are you prepared to take up the plight of the last discriminated minority in america and fight for the justice they've never known, or is this a curiosity, some sort of trivia you can drop at parties to make yourself sound more interesting?  if you're not going to help them, i suggest you just leave them alone..

Answer 6

I'm sure you've gotten better answers but just wanted to add on to you. My husband is part native American but if you look at him you don't see it. He has chestnut hair and pale skin. Turns out his grandmother is full blooded Cherokee, rest her soul. It doesn't matter if you have the palest skin, you could still have recessive traits. I also heard the 'myths' about having a native American as a grandmother but after research I found out that is partly true but so far back in the tree line that it was laughable. Good luck to you.

Answer 7

You should believe it if you can prove it.  While many people may have American Indian ancestry, not all who have family stories of an American Indian ancestor actually have an American Indian ancestor.  Do a thorough check of your family tree.  See how your ancestors identified themselves in the censuses.  Find out if they are listed on any tribal rolls.  If you can provide proof via census, tribal rolls, etc. that your ancestor was American Indian then you can believe it.  Otherwise it is an unproved family story that may or may not be true.

Answer 8

big chief running bull he say no

Answer 9

pictures