There were no written records kept by any of the pre-Columbian tribes. Instead they used an oral tradition that was passed down from generation to generation. Some of the northeastern tribes used wampum belts made up of different colored shells to record their histories and spiritual beliefs. Even though the wampum belts carried much of their history it was carried in stories and prophecies not in names, dates and places as we do today. For this reason, we do not have genealogical information from these times.
The geographic areas of Turtle Island, (North America), in the 1500's, was divided into ten major cultural areas. These areas were known as: Eastern Woodlands, South East, Far North, California, Great Basin, Great Plateau, Northwest, Plains, Desert Southwest, and the Subartic.
As you can see from this short historical sketch, doing Native American Genealogy work will take great care and patience. It can be both frustrating and rewarding; you simply have to keep at it.
Another thing you must remember is that the more you learn about the various tribes and their locations and customs, the better your research will go. Finding your Native American Roots is not simply a matter of looking up a family surname on a census. It takes much research and time to locate the people that are actually your relations.
Now don't fret about all this. You will be able to pick up the basic foundation information from this column. Next you will learn how to apply the information to your own personal search.
I am taking the time to do this simple overview to help you understand the process you will have to follow to be successful at tracing your Native American Roots. In this column I will be posting a series of articles that will walk you through the background information and help you find your ancestral line.
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