The World of Native American Genealogy
Thanks to the advent of the internet many people have been seeking information on their genealogy. Most people know there has been an increase in the number of people who are looking to research their ancestry, but there is also a prevalent notion that the only people looking to research their genealogy are those members of the huge immigration boom of the lat 19th century and the early 20th century. This is very erroneous! In fact, there are a number of people who are interested in researching their Native American genealogy. Thankfully, there are a great number of Native American genealogy search services available on the internet that can help provide the clear and concise information they require in their search.
Thankfully, when it comes to Native American genealogy most tribes have maintained clear and accurate records and this has allowed for most people searching for their ancestry to find the answers to their questions in a relatively simple manner. Of course, this is not always the case and in such instances more in depth searches for information are required.
The Boarding School Controversy
One of the more egregious examples of mistreatment of Native Americans is found in the controversy surrounding forced relocation of children to boarding schools. In these instances, many children were taken away from their parents and placed in state sponsored boarding schools. In some instances, the children lost contact with their parents and were put up for adoption. This would obviously have a negative effect on tracing one's Native American genealogy as many of these records may have become lost or destroyed as the practice of forced relocation to a boarding school was eliminated. If there was a way to trace Native American genealogy under such circumstances it would be to avoid attempting to locate boarding school records exclusively and to seek out the tribe in which the individual belongs and see what their records may indicate.
The Lost Bird Society
There is an excellent organization known as The Lost Bird Society that aids those who may be having difficulty in locating their ancestry. This organization is a tremendous Native American genealogy resource and can be contacted at the following address: Lost Bird Society, P.O. Box 952, Pine Ridge, South Dakota 57770. Again, while a search for lost records may prove difficult it is not impossible and if one has the right help and guidance the ability to arrive at a positive conclusion may be likely.
