Published - October 31, 2016
No matter who your ancestors are, it can be difficult to find them. This is doubly true if you were adopted, whether you knew it or not. And if that is the case, you have to decide if you want to trace your adoptive family, or your biological family. And in many cases, your biological family may not be who they think are. Throughout history, children were adopted, names changed, and not told. Or, if they knew at the time, after a few generations, the knowledge was lost.
As a person with Native American ancestors more than a few generations, tracking your ancestors may be nearly impossible due to the Indian Removal Act, Indian Adoption Act, and the shame of Native American ancestors. If you do find which tribes you are descended from, you have to determine if you can reconnect with your heritage. You may want to. The tribe may not be looking for lost members.
Especially ones who have never been part of their own, or similar culture.
A good place to begin your search is listed in the Works Cited. This article discusses how to begin your search, and there are links to further information about various tribes, and articles that may help you in understanding your ancestors. Your acceptance by your ancestral tribe, or tribes, will vary.
In my writing, Terra in Crosswinds discovers she is a lost member of the mixed tribe that she is staying in. Keama hoped she was the missing granddaughter, though she wasn't sure, till she met her, and heard her words. In Trails 2, Corbo finds out how he is connected to a specific tribe in Arizona. In both cases, the connection, and acceptance will be a lifelong journey.
Works Cited:
Steps to your Indian Ancestry. Indians.Org.
http://indians.org/your-indian-ancestry.html. Access Date: August 31, 2016
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