How do you track Native Americans who might have been given new "Christian" names?
I recently discovered eight (8) half-siblings, the oldest of which told me our 2nd great grandfather was full-blooded Native American (based on information she got from our shared grandmother, whom I never knew). She did not know which tribe. Knowing that so many Native American children were taken from their homes and placed in boarding schools back in the 1800's, I am trying to determine if this was possibly the case. Can anyone direct me to a registry for these children (if one exists)? Thank you.
Answers
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First Nations have tribal rolls, so it is important to identify the tribe. Do you know the name or location of the school? That would be a big help.
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No, I only have the information that the half-sister was told directly by our grandmother that her grandfather was Native American (making him my 2nd great grandfather).
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If you share the person ID of this man, others here may be able to suggest specific next steps for you to take in researching this.
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You may also like to join the Community Group for 'First Nations of North America' where you will find more focused help and assistance from others doing similar research.
Hope this helps.
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Also, by using Help Center in Family Search, and using search term Native American, there are a couple of article that may assist you in how to proceed.
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These are all good suggestions. Research Wiki which is found under the Search Icon at the top of FamilySearch is an excellent resource for finding information. Here you find research guidance and information on what we have in records and where other records can be found. You can also find a page about Virtual Consultations from a specialist; this is a free service. Best wishes!
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