American Indian Genealogy Message Board
This message board covers North America and is for researchers who are trying to discover their Native American Indian tribe of origin. Tribe- and area-specific forums are also available from this page.
To see a map that shows the various Indian culture areas of North America, consult Paula Giese's North American Pre-Contact Native Culture Areas GIS map. Paula's map shows the names of the culture areas covered by my message boards and the language (linguistic) families included.
Consideration of these tribes from the standpoint of language is very useful to the genealogist. It helps us understand how tribes were, later, grouped on reservations. It tells us what their pre-contact (with Europeans) migrations might have been. It gives insight to the reasons certain tribes formed certain alliances during different historical periods. It also presents many mysteries concerning the dissemination or diaspora of the Indian Nations throughout history.
To have your research question answered by an accredited American Indian genealogist for a fee of $20 click here. See a sample paid query exchange.
Remember, please, that the tribe lists and geographic areas described are approximate and the delineations are soft. If your people are from an area nearby or are not listed but known to be in the area, please don't hesitate to post your message.
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Tribal and Geographic Areas Covered by My Message Boards
Southern Woodland Culture Area
Linguistic Families of Muskagian, Siouan, Timucuan, Iroquoian
Including the following tribes: Cherokee, Choctaw, Chickasaw, Creek, Seminole, Saponi, Manahoac, moneton, Monacan, Tutela, Occaneechi, Shoccoree, Sissipahaw, Yadkin, Woccon, Keyauwee, Cape Fear, Sugeree, Waxhaw, Cheraw, Catawba, Wateree, Winyaw, Waccamaw, Sewee, Santee, pedee, Congaree, Wateree, Saluda, Cusabo, Stono, Edisto, Guale, Oconee, Mikasuki, Okmulgee, Tuskegee, Chiahu, Hitchiti, Yamasee, Tamathli, Tucatacuru, Timucua, Calusa, Osochi
Tuskegee, Alabama, muklasa, Apalachicola, Sawokli, Chatot, Apalachee
Pensacola, Napachi, Koasati, Tali, Kaskinampa, Taposa, Chakchiuma, Ibitoupa, Tiou, Tunica, Koroa, Yazoo, Ofo, Taensa, Natchez, Grigra, Houma, Acolapissa, Tangipahoa, Bayogoula, Quinipissa, Washa, Chawasha, Chitimacha, Opelousa, voyel, Oklelousa, Natchitoches, Adia, Eyeish, Caddo, Atakapa, Didai, Akokisa, Hasinai, Biloxi and many more.
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California and Southwest Culture Areas
Linguistic Families of Californian Penutian, Lokan, Athabascan, Uto-Aztecan, Yuman, Tanoan
Including the following tribes: Ritwan, Yurok, Shasta, Achomawi (Pit River), Okwanuchu, Atsugewi (Hat Creek), Chimariko, Wintu, Yana, Yahi, Hupa, Nongatl, Mattole, Whilkut, Sinkyone, Lassik, Wailaki, Kato, Yuki, Huchnom, Pomo, Lileek, Wappo, Nomlaki, Konkow, Nisenan, Patwin, Washo, Ykuts, Costanoan, Tole-Kaweah, Buena Vista, Mission, Tachi, Esselen, Salina, Chumash, Fernadeno, Gabrielino, Juaneno, Luiseno, Kawaiisu, Kitanemuk, Alliklik, Vanyume, Serrano, Cahuilla, Cupeno, Havaupai, Walapai, Mohave, Halchidhoma, Diegueno (Ipai), Kamia (Tipai), Kahuana, Yavapai, Maricopa, Yuma, Cocopa, Akawala, Kiliwa, Cochimi, Pima, Quahatika, Papago, Sobaipuri, Seri, opata, Eudeve, Jova, Yaqui, Guarijio, Mayo, Tarahumara, Tubar, Lagunero, Toboso, Concho, Jocome, Jano, Suma, Jumano, Manso, Apache, Chiricahua, Mescalero, Lipan, White Mountain, Western Apache, San Carlos, Cibecue, Tonto, Tonkawa, Aranama, Karankawa, Coaque, Kohani, Coapite, Kopano, Coahuilteco, Pelones, Barrado, Totoname, Comecrudo, Tobaso, Lagunero, Concho
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Plains and Prairie Culture Areas
Algonkain, Siouan and Caddoan Linguistic Families
Including the following tribes: Cree, Saulteaux, Pequis, Metis, Sarsi, Assiniboine, Stoney, Blackfoot, Piegan, Gros Ventre, Atsina, Mandan, Hidatsa, Ojibwa, Arikara, Mdewkanton, Sisseton, Sioux, Yankton, Dakota, Wahpekute, Wahpeton, River Crow, Mountain Crow, Crow, Hunkpapa, Sans Arc, Two Kettle, Northern Cheyenne, Teton, Lakota, Miniconjou, Brule, Oglala, Ponca, Omaha, Iowa, Missouri, oto, Skidi, Chaui, Kitkehaki, Pawnee, Pitahauerat, Arapaho, Osage, Kansas, Kaw, Quapaw, Tawehash, Yscani, Wichita, Kiowa, Athabascan, Comanche, Kichai, Waco, Tawakoni, Caddo, Natchitoches, Adia, Eyeish, Hasinai, Tonkawa, Aranama
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Great Lakes and Northern Woodland Culture Area
Algonkian, Iroquoian and Siouan Linguistic Families
Nipigon, Ojibwa, Abitibi, Mattagami, Timiskaming, Manouane, Huron, Micmac, malecite, Penobscot, Passamaquoddy, Chippewa, Michipicotn, Dokis, Nipissing, Golden lake, Maniwaki, Algonquin, Abenaki, Pennacook, Menomini, Winnebago, Sauk, Fox, Kiskapoo, Moingwena, Illini, Peoria, Ottawa, Mascouten, Potawatomi, Miami, Wea, Piankashaw, Shawnee, Mosopelea, Wyandot, Mingo, Erie, Neutral, Wenro, Petun, Tobacco Nation, Mississauga, Pocumtuc, Nipmuc, Mahican, Wappinger, Tunxis, Paugusset, Mohegan, Pequot, Massachsett, Nauset, Wampanoag, Pokanoke, Narraganset, Niantic, Montauk, Shinnecock, Poosepatuck, Metoac, Munsee, Rockaway, Delaware, unami, Susquehannock, Mohawk, Iroquois, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Tuscarora, Seneca, Piscataway, Choptank, Nanticoke, Conoy, Powhatan, Chickahominy, Mattapony, Nansemond, pamunkey, Potomac, Rappahannock, Nottoway, Meherrin, Weapemeoc, Chowanoc, Roanoke, Tuscarora, Machapunga, Pamlico, Secotan, Bear River, Neusiok, Coree, Hatteras
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Northwest Coast Culture Area
Tlingit, Wakashan, Salishan, Chinook, Athabascan, Oregon Penutian Linguistic Families including the following tribes:
Yakutat, Gonaho, Tlingit, Chilkat, Auk, Taku, Huna, Sumdum, Killisnoo, Stka, Stikine, Kake, Kuiu, Henya, Hahl, Klawak, Haida, Kaigani, haida, Sanya, Tongas, Niska, Gitskan, Tsimshian, Kitamat, Kitlope, Kwakiutl, China Hat, Bella Bella, Bella Coola, Wikeno, Somehulitk, Nohuntsitk, Koskimo, Nawiti, Nimpkish, Nootka, Makah, Ozette, Comax, Seechelt, Puntlatch, Squamish, Cowichan (Staio), Semiahmoo, Nanaimo, Halkomelem, Songish, Lummi, Nooksack, Samish, Skagit, Swinomish, Snohomish, Suquamish, Clallam, Quileute, Hoh, Chimakum, Queets, Twana, Quinault, Skokomish, Skyomish, Snoqualmie, Duwamish, Muckleshoot, Puyallup, Squaxan, Humptulips, Wynoochee, Satsop, Copalis, Nisqually, Chehalis, Chinook, Cathlamet, Cowlitz, Kwalhioqua, Clatskanie, Athabascan, Clatsop, Tillamook, Watiala, Wishram, Wasco, Atfalati, Yamel, Nestucca, Lakmiut, Chepenafa, Mary's River, Santiam, Siletz, Yaquina, Chelamela, Alsea, Calapooya, Siuslaw, Yoncalia, Kuitsh, Umpqua, Hanis, Coos, Coquille, Umpqua, Tututni, Taltusktuntude, Takelma, Chastacosta, Latgawa, Dakubetede, Chetco, Tolowa
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Plateau and Grean Basin Culture Areas
Salishan, Shapwaitula and Uto-Aztecan Linguistic Families including the following tribes:
Lillooet, Thompson, Shuswap, Nicola, Kutenai, Athabascan, Methow, Okanogan, Senijextee, Lake, Kalispel, Flathead, Sanpoil, Nespelem, Sinkiuse, Colville, Wenatchee, Spokane, Coeur d'Alene, Columbia, Moses Columbia, Taidnapam, Waptailmin, Palouse, Nez Perce, Wanapum, Chimnapum, Walla Walla, Umatilla, Yakima, Klickitat, Tyigh, Tenino, Tukspush, John Day, Cayuse, Molala, Paiute, Lemhi, Sheepeaters, Shoshone, Klamath, Modoc, Momo, Owens Valley Paiute, Monachi, Koso, Panamint, Chemehuevi, Wininuche, Ute, Uncompaghre, Yampa, White River, Gosiute, Pahvant, Wind River
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Indian Territory - Coming Soon
State of Oklahoma - Various Linguistic Families and Tribes as follows:
Kaw, Kansas, Miami, Quapaw, Peoria, Modoc, Shawnee, ottawa, Wyandot, Seneca, Munsee, Stockbridge, Delaware, Loyal Shawnee, Cherokee, Osage, Tonkawa, Nez Perce, Lipan, ponca, Otoe, Missouri, Pawnee, Cheyenne, Arapaho, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Delaware, Wichita, Tawakoni, Waco, Caddo, Annadarko, Hainai, Kichai, Kiowa, Apache, Comanche, Chickasaw, Iowa, Kickapoo, Potawatomi, Absentee Shawnee, Sac, Sauk, Fox, Seminole, Yuchi, Apalachicola, Hitchiti, Muskogee, Creek, Catawba, Alabama, Koasati, Natchez, Choctaw, Biloxi
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North America - Unknown Tribes - For genealogical researchers trying to discover the tribe(s) of origin for their families.
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References
Handbook of American Indians north of Mexico. Frederick Hodge. New York, Greenwood Press [1969]2 v. illus. 27 cm.
The Gale encyclopedia of Native American tribes / edited by Sharon Malinowski ... [et al.].Detroit : Gale, c1998.4 v.
The Indian tribes of North America / John R. Swanton.Baltimore, MD : Genealogical Publishing Co., 2003.726 p. ; 23 cm
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How to Write and Manage a Genealogical Query
When using Message Boards and Mailing Lists online, it's important to understand what your readers need to know details about your research problem or question (query). Following are instructions for writing queries. If you follow these instructions, you will have greater and more appropriate responses to your queries.
REMEMBER: You will be consulting people who are experts in their fields and very busy. An incomplete or improperly written query will probably garner a "sorry, no information" answer from most other experts. However, I am dedicated to teaching genealogy as well as answering questions in my area of interest, so, do, please, keep a copy of this instruction and consult it when you make your next request for information.
REMEMBER: In writing your query, answer the following questions, so far as you are able. If the information you have is uncertain, follow it with a question mark (?).
If you have no information about a detail, place a blank area in the query ( _______ ).
Abbreviate birth (b), marriage (m) and death (d). If you have to list more than one marriage write them (m1), (m2), etc.
-YOUR QUERY SHOULD ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS-
1. Who is the person you want to find information about (if a female, give her maiden name, or, if none is known, explain)?
2. When and where was this person born (b), where and when did he die (d), where and when did he marry (m)?
3. Who did this person marry? Where did this person marry?
4. Who were the children that resulted from the marriage (b, d, m) and what were the names of their spouses (no further information needed for the children's spouses unless there is some pertinent reason to add more)?
5. Who were the parents (b,d,m) of the person on whom you are focusing (question #1)? Where and when did they live and die, etc?
6. Who were the siblings (brothers and sisters) (b,d,m) of the person on whom you are focusing (question #1)? Where and when did they live and die, etc?
7. With what tribe(s) do you think your focus person was associated?
8. Why do you think your focus person was Indian (physical characteristics, family story, Indian name, proximity to tribes, etc.)?
-TO PREPARE AND USE YOUR QUERY-
Write your query in a word processor (answering ALL of the questions), select and copy it onto your clip board; then go out on the web and look for places to deposit it. As long as you don't use your copy command on anything else, it will remain in memory.
All you need to do to insert it is to click on the place where you want it to go, and click on "paste". Simple, huh?
BE SURE TO PLACE YOUR SURNAME(S) AND PLACENAMES IN THE SUBJECT LINE OF THE QUERY SO READERS CAN SORT THEM OUT QUICKLY.
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"GENEALOGY WITHOUT PROOF IS MYTHOLOGY"
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