Do You Have Cherokee Heritage? Tips for Researching

People might wonder why I am interested in researching a part of my heritage that is so small. Most people would choose to conduct genealogy research on their most prominent ethnic group or race. I am mostly Scotch, Irish, and English however I have always had a strong attachment to the Cherokee Indian side of who I am. My Fathers great grandmother was full blooded Cherokee, of the Qualla tribe. Recently we found out that my Mother also had Indian blood. Her great great grandmother was also full blooded Cherokee. So by my calculations, that makes me a sixteenth Cherokee. I began to run into problems researching my heritage. I did discover some wonderful means to research your Indian heritage, specifically your Cherokee heritage. I am sharing those tips here.

1) Cherokee Heritage Books. On a recent trip to Cherokee, North Carolina, I found several books listing relatives that were on the rolls and books. This book was very helpful in researching names, birthdates, death, and tribal location. ( Book browsed at Indian summer Soveigners in Cherokee, North Carolina and at the Moccassin Tracks Store)

2) Graveyards. There are a lot of native Indians that did not receive proper burial, but from the mid 1880's on, Cherokee had their own graveyards or shared those of their white neighbors. Often, the tombstones have not only the deceased person's information, but the parent's names were listed. ( Experience at graveyards in Cherokee County, Buncome, County, and the Cherokee reservation.

3) Indian rolls. The Cherokee County Courthouse was closed by the time that I got to Cherokee on the weekend, However, the clerk stated that they have copies of all the census done, even the Specific Indian rolls that the government made the Cherokees keep. ( Cherokee County Courthouse visit)