Native American

The list of items below have been tagged as part of the Native American historical collection here at AccessGenealogy.

Treaty of 10 December 1850 – Texas Indians

In a historic meeting on December 10, 1850, near the headwaters of Wallace Creek, Special Agent John H. Rollins forged a pivotal peace treaty with the chiefs of numerous Texas Indian tribes. This landmark agreement, aimed at establishing peace and defining relations between the U.S. government and these tribes, covers a wide array of commitments from acknowledging U.S. jurisdiction to regulating trade, ensuring mutual peace, and setting forth guidelines for the return of prisoners and stolen property. With the original treaty held in Washington and a copy in the Texas State Library, this document remains a crucial piece of history in understanding the complex relationships and negotiations between Native American tribes and the expanding United States.

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Alleged 1818 Chickasaw Roll – Surname Index

This is an English surname transcription of the alleged 1818 Chickasaw roll said to have been lost in the beginning of the 19th century. I expect, if this is a true roll, that it is the result of the Treaty of October 19, 1818 between the Chickasaw Nation and the United States. I have some doubts, however, as the treaty stipulates payments and land to the tribe, not to individual tribal members as later treaties would. It would be at the discretion of the tribe on how to settle the reservation and distribute the payments.

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Keweenaw Bay Indian Community

The Keweenaw Bay Indian Community (KBIC) is a federally recognized Native American tribe situated in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. Primarily composed of members of the Anishinaabe people, specifically the Ojibwa (also known as Chippewa), the KBIC has a rich history that’s woven into the broader narrative of Native American existence in the Great Lakes region. This article delves into the detailed history of this vibrant community, tracing its roots, its struggles, and its achievements.

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Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians

This comprehensive history delves into the origins, struggle, and current status of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. Starting from their ancient Anishinaabeg roots in the Great Lakes region, it chronicles their interactions with European settlers, loss of traditional ways, and efforts for federal recognition. The article also recounts the tribe’s transformation from a community with meager resources into a significant economic entity, spanning across Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It is a testament to the tribe’s resilience, highlighting their continued growth and importance in today’s socio-economic landscape.

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The Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma

The Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma, hailing from the term “adawe” or ‘trade’, played an instrumental role in North America’s fur trade. This article chronicles their history, from early interactions with the French to contemporary times, highlighting significant milestones such as their involvement in the French and Indian War, their migrations, and their efforts towards educating their children. It also details their temporary termination by the U.S. Government in 1956 and subsequent reinstatement in 1978, emphasizing the resilience of the tribe throughout their enduring history.

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Jackson Sundown

The horse became a very important part of the Nez Perce people. Not only for hunting in buffalo country, but the horse was a warrior. Nez Perce learned to breed and work with horses. Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn (Jackson Sundown) from an early age worked and cared for horses. Waaya-Tonah-Toesits-Kahn was a famous all-around cowboy, horseman, and excellent

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Big Sandy Rancheria History

In 1909, the Big Sandy Rancheria of Auberry became a sanctuary for the Western Mono Indians, thanks to the Bureau of Indian Affairs securing 280 acres in California. However, the 1958 California Rancheria Act, which aimed at terminating the trust status of lands for 41 Rancherias including Big Sandy, marked the beginning of a challenging period. The Rancheria’s subsequent struggle with termination and the loss of federal support led to socioeconomic hardships. In a significant turnaround, a 1983 court decision restored the Rancheria’s status, offering a fresh start towards self-sufficiency.

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1859 List of Munsee from Leavenworth County Kansas

This list was adapted for the web from a photocopy of a two-page typed document possessed by the family of Clio Caleb Church. Since it has no official heading or signature, the document appears to be someone’s transcription of an original report to the Office of Indian Affairs, Department of the Interior. Likely this is a census of the Munsee who were moving from Leavenworth County to the new reservation in Franklin County, coinciding with the Treaty of 1859. It is not an enrollment list — it includes non-Indian spouses and there are no enrollment or allotment numbers. The document lists the person’s name, sex, and age, grouped by family unit.

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A Guide to Tracing American Indian Ancestry

A Guide to Tracing American Indian Ancestry provides researchers a methodology for researching their Native American family tree. One of the most frequent questions we get at AccessGenealogy is how do I research my Native American ancestry? This guide, published by NARA is meant to assist you in finding the Federal records available for each tribe, and using them to research your own family tree.

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A Guide to Tracing American Indian & Alaska Native Ancestry

This is a pdf of the Department of Interior’s “Guide to tracing American Indian & Alaska Native Ancestry.”

When establishing descent from an American Indian/American Native tribe for membership and enrollment purposes an individual must provide genealogical documentation that supports his or her claim of such ancestry from a specific tribe or tribal community. Such documentation must prove that the individual is a lineal descendant of an individual whose name can be found on the tribal membership roll of the federally recognized tribe from which the individual is claiming descent and is seeking to enroll.

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Washington, Applications for Enrollment and Adoption of Washington Indians, 1911-1919

The collection consists of images of records created by Charles E. Roblin “Roblin Rolls of Non-Reservation Indians in Western Washington” during enrollment and adoption proceedings of Indian tribes for in Western Washington that were not on tribal census records. The records are from NARA microfilm publication M1343 and is part of Record Group 75 Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. It is arranged by tribal name claimed by the applicant then by name.

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A Fresh Look at Ocmulgee Bottoms

Many of the most fundamental assumptions by the Anthropology profession concerning the Pre-European history of the Lower Southeast were developed during the mid-20th century as a result of a massive, federally-funded excavation of archaeological sites near Macon, GA. While today, anthropologists, museums and the National Park Service present a united front stating that the body of knowledge, which resulted from the Ocmulgee Bottoms studies, was the result of comprehensive analysis, plus well-thought out consensus by some of the most brilliant men of their time, the truth is quite a bit different.

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Chilocco Indian School Records 1884-1980

Founded in 1883-84, the Chilocco Indian Agricultural School was one of the first, large off-reservation boarding schools established by the Federal government for the education of American Indian students. It offered academic and vocational training to children of tribes across the United States. This dataset comprises an historical collection of manuscripts and records pertaining to the school and its pupils.

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Indians in Mason County Michigan 1850 Census

The following 75 people were identified as Indians (I) in column 6 (color) of the 1850 census for Mason County Michigan. One will note, that this does not follow the federal instructions for the census, as it was not intended that Native Americans be included in this census, but the enumerator did it anyway, and identified them with an I. Some census takers, enumerated their Native American residents with an M or B.

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