If my grandmother was 1/2 Cherokee from Oklahoma that would make my dad 1/4 Cherokee and I would be 1/8 Cherokee. Is that the way it works? I only ask because nobody in my family ever talked about this we considered ourselves part of the human race not part of a group or sect.
quick question
- Thread starter Chief 101
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Without DNA testing that’s as close as you can get. The problem is, short of some undiscovered tribe in a jungle somewhere no one is just what they figure they are from family history.
Humans have migrated since their inception. Wars have been fought all over again the globe. And soldiers always leave babies behind.
Humans have migrated since their inception. Wars have been fought all over again the globe. And soldiers always leave babies behind.
JackpineWillie
Single-Sixer
I know a young lady who has the same background, Grandma 1/2, Dad 1/4 and herself 1/8. She qualified for "Elder pay" from one of the northern tribes upon reaching a certain age. Just an FYI
I agree with the DNA test.
I'm confused, why did you ask???
Don't be confused...if I get asked what race am I, there will be no confusion on my part if I say Native American...even if the other 7/8 part of me were residents of Europe before they arrived on North America...
But you say "not part of a group or sect". Hmmm.
Paul B
Hunter
Well, I was born and raised right here in American. I must be a native American even if the ancestry is French, Irish and Swede.
Paul B.
Paul B.
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My DNA came back as 7% Native American. I have no problem telling people they are trespassing on my ancestral land.
People worry way too much about their ancestory. Probably because of all of the TV commercials. Those folks are long dead. It doesn't matter. What matters is what you have done since birth to the present time.
lipofsky
Single-Sixer
When the form asks for Race, I type in Human. Because I am
KIR
Sparks, NV
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Tell that to the folks who are still fightin' the Civil...uh...War Twixt the States!
In his first post the OP stated why he asked.
I too often wonder what my heritage is, but just because I was born in Missouri doesn’t mean I can say I’m Native American. I believe that right goes to the ancestors of the actual Native Americans.
I too often wonder what my heritage is, but just because I was born in Missouri doesn’t mean I can say I’m Native American. I believe that right goes to the ancestors of the actual Native Americans.
I too am of the human race. The last form I had to answer race, color, or creed, was the census. I answered AMERICAN.
NATIVE implies birth or origin in a place or region and may suggest compatibility with it.
native tribal customs
INDIGENOUS applies to that which is not only native but which, as far as can be determined, has never been introduced or brought from elsewhere.
https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/native
And Bill Clinton argued about the definition of the word “is.”
I didn't start this thread so I could argue with you...relaxBut you say "not part of a group or sect". Hmmm.
Some people may. I think for others its more of a curiosity. In my case for example, I didn’t meet my father until I was 57. I never wanted to know certain things bad enough to dive down the rabbit hole of research. But once we met, he did provide me with ( to me ) a treasure trove of information including medical history.
I AM AMERICAN. Where ever my family came from prior to landing on the East coast of the US of A is irrelevant. I do know where and when my ancestors arrived and from whence they came but it makes no diff in my mind. They came here and became American citizens and THAT'S THE END OF THE STORY.
I actually have the same Native American linage as as the OP but here is the problem with this DNA thing and I need to do some research to see how I am either wrong or right... you do not get exactly 50% of your DNA from each of your parents.... Somebody on this list pointed this out a couple of months ago and so I'm still trying to figure out how this testing shows your exact DNA history.
black1970
Blackhawk
I know a woman whose mother was full- blooded Cherokee. She draws a check from the government for being so.
That's a consideration, with some of the tribes. A lot of them don't have much by way of resources, but there are a few where tribal membership means a monthly check for several thousand dollars - and that can be for each & every member, including children. So, in many places when you drive onto sovereign tribal land, you see the homes get smaller, and the vehicles get older; in a few places, the homes get really big & nice, and you see luxury vehicles in the driveways.
We are all a bunch of immigrants. The way I see it even the "Indigenous" people came from somewhere else, they just got here before the "Europeans" did in the 14th-16th centuries. The scientists are still trying to determine if the "Indigenous" people arrived here first from Asia or Europe.
I have been listing myself as "Native American" for years because I was born here and my parents were born here. Now most of the government forms have dropped "Native American" and replaced it with "American Indian" none of them list "Indigenous People" so now I have to chose "White."
DNA tests can open a huge bag of worms. My wife is really into genealogy and has been researching her family for decades. Her family's background is; English,Welsh, Scottish, Swedish, Danish and Irish. My family is Polish & Ukranian. Our kids are Americans. When she had her DNA testing done she discovered she had a bunch of Russian and Baltic area 2nd & 3rd cousins. She managed to trace them back to her Great-Grandfather who was a Methodist minister who traveled to Russia in 1917-1919 as part of a missionary trip. (We joke that we know his position on things)
She has also helped a lot of other people trace their roots back. Adopted people are sometimes surprised by the results that she has found for them. Some of the birth parents families welcome the new family members, others want nothing to do with their new relatives and deny any connection. The DNA doesn't lie, some of the families are in denial.
Your family genealogy is only as accurate as the fidelity of your ancestors.
Armybrat
Hunter
My maternal grandma was French, Mom 1/2, so that means I should be 1/4.
Fortunately I have a strong aversion to white flags.
Fortunately I have a strong aversion to white flags.
That would be an embarrassment...now I'm sorry I asked the question. JK
My Dad spent his early years outside of Red Wing, MN where his only friends were Native Americans from the nearby reservation. The locals apparently were not fond of their children playing with the Jewish children, which meant my Dad and his little brother. When I was growing up, my Dad's interest in Native Americans was very strong, and he used to joke that we were part Indian, but only as a joke. DNA testing showed me as 99% Eastern European and 1% Russian. (why Russians are not included in Eastern European I have no idea). But Native Americans have no inherent right to the land that they happened to live on when more advanced Europeans arrived to settle North America. The Natives themselves fought endless wars against each other, and many of these tribes did not even have a concept of land ownership. The domination of North America by European immigrants is just the way of the world and has been since the dawn of history.
This is exactly why I ask the question...I didn't know if it was a simple linear equation as I initially presented in my original post...and, I don't know how dna can figure that out...anyhows I am an American with mostly Caucasian features...
