Native American Heritage Hello: I am Pioneer Woman (a/k/a Jane) the Native
American Coordinator for the New Mexico Genealogy. I am a genealogist
(and web mistress) so the gist of this page is geared to genealogy
research of Native American tribes.
Native American Federally Recognized Tribes of New Mexico
New Mexico Genealogy
and Research
For
all of us who heard as a child, great grand someone in our
family was a Native American, this page is meant to help
answer some questions. Here you can find a variety of information
for Native Americans. If you are new to genealogy, be sure
you learn the basics, use proper etiquette, keep orderly
records and notes and be persistent. Research is very time
consuming so be sure to allocate time wisely. American Indian
genealogy is a broad and varied subject. When you
explore your heritage, it will take you into new territory
and away from usual research habits, such as the early federal
census. You may still find clues in land and military records
but you'll be digging into regional files, federal "rolls"
and a culture still deeply rooted in oral tradition which
provides no hard source for documentation. Your quest will
introduce you to a population of more than 550 federally
recognized tribes whose members speak more than 250 languages!
Jicarilla Apache Tribe of the Jicarilla Apache Indian
Reservation
Mescalero Apache Tribe of the Mescalero Reservation
Navajo Nation of Arizona, New Mexico & Utah
Pueblo of
Acoma
Pueblo of Cochiti
Pueblo of Jemez
Pueblo
of Isleta
Pueblo of Laguna
Pueblo of Nambe
Pueblo
of Picuris
Pueblo of Pojoaque
Pueblo of San Felipe
Pueblo of San Juan
Pueblo of San Ildefonso
Pueblo
of Sandia
Pueblo of Santa Ana
Pueblo of Santa Clara
Pueblo of Santo Domingo
Pueblo of Taos
Pueblo of Tesuque
Pueblo of Zia
Zuni Tribe of the Zuni Reservation
For
a comprehensive list of New Mexico Tribal Councils , do
a quick search with the Google search engine for:
"New
Mexico"+Tribal Council and you will get over 35,500
hits - you choose the site you like.
About New Mexico: Some facts to help with your research.
When: 4th Friday in September
This day is set aside to honor and
celebrate Native Americans, the
first Americans to live in the U.S.
Still commonly referred to as American
Indians, the term "Native Americans"
has been used in recent years as
a sign of respect and recognition
that they were indeed the first
people to populate our wonderful
nation. By the time the first explorers
and settlers arrived from Europe,
Native Americans had populated the
entire North American Continent,
from the Atlantic to the Pacific,
and from the Gulf of Mexico all
the way to the northern reaches
of Canada.
Here are five steps to help you
get started.
1.
Begin with your own family.
It's important to talk with your family as much as possible. Obtain as much information regarding your ancestors as you can; handed- down stories and all; they could contain clues for your research which you can attempt to document. Locate any old photos in possession of family members and have them identify the person or persons, the location, and the time frame if possible.
2. Find the Tribal Location.
If your family hails from present-day
New Mexico, you can probably narrow
your first search down to Southwest
tribes such as the Navajo or Apache.
Take a look at area maps
and try to locate the tribal area.
Maps contain many of the tribes,
their locations and tribal
links. Follow the links. If the
tribe was in New Mexico, be sure
to check the bordering states: Arizona
Colorado Oklahoma
Texas Utah
Look for that information buried and forgotten in family bible, records, vital statistics, letters or diaries. If you don't find it there, you'll need to expand your research into tribal histories and migration patterns. (see Online Resources below)
3. Learn tribal culture and history.
Searching for Native American
roots means sharpening your skills
as a historian. Without the basic
understanding of tribal history
and historical context within the
larger perspective of American expansion,
it will be far more difficult for
you to dig out your roots. In some
cases, you'll need to know the migration
patterns of a particular tribe or
the sometimes many areas in which
it was resettled. Our ancestors
did not stay in one place forever.
4. Know what records are available.
If you are currently a member
of a tribe, you will may contact
your tribal enrollment office for
a copy of your pedigree and your
local Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA)
office for copies of probates and
allotment records (for tribes west
of the Mississippi). But, if neither
you nor any of your kin are enrolled,
your search will be more difficult.
Most of the time, you will need
to use regular genealogical records
with emphasis on Indian tribes pertinent
to your individual families.
Don't jump ahead and begin researching with the early records; instead find your ancestors on the 1930 census or other documents and work backwards; documenting where they lived, when they lived there and who their neighbors were. Many times families moved and relocated together, and some intermarried, sometimes into different tribes. If they disappear around 1900-1910 then look to the Indian "rolls".
Tribal Indians were not counted in early federal censuses. Census records from 1790 to 1850 included only Indians living in settled areas who were taxed and didn't claim a tribal affiliation. Indians on the reservations or those who lived a nomadic existence were not taxed, and therefore not counted. Some Indians "passed as white" and are not identified as Indians.
The 1860 federal census added
a category called "Indian (taxed)."
From 1870 to 1910, the census had
an "Indian" category, but it didn't
include reservation Indians
until 1890. Most of that census
was lost to fire, though, so 1900
is the first available census that
lists most Native Americans.
5. Use Online Resources.
Mailing lists- Genealogy mailing lists are a quick and easy way for researchers to network with one another. Once you've located your tribe, join in discussions at some of the nearly 60 mailing lists dedicated to Native American research at Rootsweb Native American and Rootsweb Ethnic-Native Publications- Many tribes, historical societies and individuals publish journals or newsletters about a specific tribe or about American Indian research in general. Look for online newsletters. Read books.
How Many Ancestors Do You Have?