Are you interested in the Native Americans Project? [closed]

+16 votes
1.6k views

Members of The Native Americans Project identifiy, add, source and track WikiTree profiles of indigenous people who lived in what is currently the boundaries of the United States. (See The First Peoples Project for other areas.) 

We also seek out and track the mythological (disproven/false/fraudulent ancestry) claims about Native Americans that make their way onto WikiTree. This is an important task toward keeping our shared tree accurate and healthy. 

If you are researching Native Americans, or just interested in helping The Native Americans Project, please join us.

We are asking everyone who wants to join to share a profile you've worked on that demonstrates your understanding of basic WikiTree editing. We would really like to see basic knowledge of Native Americans profile guidelines, research and sourcing (see Project Guidelines) You must have been a member of WikiTree for at least 30 days, have made at least 100 contributions to WikiTree profiles and (if working on profiles of pre-1700 Native Americans) have successfully completed the Pre-1700 Quiz.

If you are interested, post an ANSWER below sharing your specific area of interest (a tribe/nation, era or region, for example). Please include a link to a profile you've worked on.

Thank you.

closed with the note: Project restructuring - there will be a new join post soon
in Requests for Project Volunteers by Sarah Mason G2G6 Mach 5 (56.5k points)
closed by Eowyn Walker

Is there any Project Member willing to look at this, because it saddens me that this extremely talented lady doesn't have a profile (or, at least, I didn't find one) -- Mildred Bailey.  Her family was talented (direct copy and paste from the Wikipedia page for those who don't click links) --

She grew up on the Coeur d'Alene Reservation in Idaho, where her mother was an enrolled member. The family moved to Spokane, Washington when she was 13. Her younger brothers also became musicians, with her brother Al Rinker starting to perform as a singer with Bing Crosby in Spokane and eventually becoming famous as a member of The Rhythm Boys. Charles Rinker became a lyricist, and Miles Rinker was a clarinet and saxophone player who later became a booking agent.

.

I've tackled a few things where I'm not normally comfortable, but considering my only First Nations (Americas) profile thus far was Michael Wallet (Chippewa -- family line Ouellette  from Canada), who is collaterally related to my family, I most definitely do not consider myself qualified to tackle Mildred and her family.

Thanks for reading.

Melanie, I suggest you start a separate g2g thread just for this person; it's not likely to get sufficient project volunteer attention buried in a "join" thread. I almost skipped right over it except I saw your name and wondered if you were joining the NA project...

Thanks.
P.S. in the meantime, I'll get started...

I saw your name and wondered if you were joining the NA project...

Thanks.

commented by Jillaine Smith

.

Although I have the heart for it, I don't think I have the knowledge to make a join request - and I know I don't know enough to create profiles beyond the basics as I did for Michael.   Besides, join requests should be in answer form, not comment.  smiley

I thought posting here might get it seen more than a separate thread that might get a few looks and no responses. 

Thank you for responding - and thank you for creating her a profile. 

edit - turning off email notification

Thank you, Melanie and Jillaine!

I did ask a separate question : Can you help with Native American notable Mildred Bailey? — so, hopefully, there will be those who can do better than I could, who might step in to help.

Cherokee
A Kopp, if you're interested in joining WikiTree's Native Americans project, please re-read and follow the instructions at the top of this thread. Thanks!

22 Answers

+10 votes
ok so her is my moms tribe that is not listed on here Yurok tribe. They are in Eureka California. I would like to help with this and if you can add them to the list. let me know.

Lacey
by Lacey Franks G2G1 (1.2k points)
Hi Lacey,

Thank you for asking about the Yurok tribe on WikiTree. It looks like we have categories for the Yurok, specifically Big Lagoon Rancheria and Blue Lake Rancheria, but there aren't any profiles grouped in these categories yet. We do not currently have an active team page, nor do we have a free-space page with any information or resources yet at this time.

Sarah
+10 votes

Dear Sarah,

How do you handle Indians who were given names by their captors? 2 examples:

1: I have a Dine friend ( Navaho ) whose ancestors were given the name "Cambridge" because the particular Army sargeant who was checking their existence off on a list  during the "long march" was named that.

2: Our family website ("Axtell Family Organization") mentions a Nez Perce ( Stephen Axtell ) who was given our name because the local county clerk didn't like his Indian name. 

A separate American Axtell lineage started in 1885 when a Nez Perce (pronounced nezz purse) Indian in northern Idaho took the name Stephen Axtell to be eligible for a grant of land. He had a son named William Whitman Axtell who married Nellie Moody in 1923. Their only child was Horace Percy Axtell (born 7 Nov 1924), named after Horace Moody, an uncle, and his father's friend, Percy, the postmaster in Stites, Idaho. Horace's Indian name is "Isluumts", after his grandfather. Horace is a great-grandfather, so the Stephen Axtell lineage has 6 generations now.

BTW, I use the term "Indian" because that is what all my Indian friends use.

by Dave Axtell G2G4 (4.9k points)

Hi Dave,

This does get a bit tricky, doesn't it? WikiTree, in general, wants us to use what the person would've used in their time and language. The Native Americans Project, specifically, wants to use the tribe's name for those born before the use of surnames. So, in both of your examples, I would strive to find and use the name the individual used for themselves, most likely using the tribe's name in the LNAB field. The other names given to them could be put in the other last names field. It may be possible more sources are found for the later name just because that was written down by clerks and such. Of course, an explanation in the biography or research notes would be appropriate, along with sources, sources, sources smiley  

Sarah

In the case of Dine folks, many do not want their native names made public. They feel that is for tribal members only.
+11 votes
yes i know that i have a lot of native in my tree i do have the treety book to suport my clames
by George Rinker G2G Crew (590 points)

Hi George,

Welcome to WikiTree! If you would like to join the Native Americans Project, please review the requirements as stated above. 

"We are asking everyone who wants to join to share a profile you've worked on that demonstrates your understanding of basic WikiTree editing. We would really like to see basic knowledge of Native Americans profile guidelines, research and sourcing (see Project Guidelines) You must have been a member of WikiTree for at least 30 days, have made at least 100 contributions to WikiTree profiles and (if working on profiles of pre-1700 Native Americans) have successfully completed the Pre-1700 Quiz."

I hope to hear back from you again soon!

Sarah

i con be lazey and get my masters it is not my stiley i whant the trouth but not geting my sied or nolage is to not whant the real native story
+9 votes
Sara

I would love to be a member of your the Native American project.

I have been searching for my Native American family since I was a child of 9 years old. My Grandma Zella Mae Derrickson  : Franks-1918 told me of my Cherokee ancestry. I have been in contact with the Cherokee.  However  they told me although they believe that I am Native Cherokee. It is going to be hard to find my family since they left the tribe before the Trail of Tears.
by Sheri Stigall G2G2 (2.2k points)
Hi Sheri,

Thank you for your interest in the Native Americans Project. One of our membership requirements is to put forth a profile you have worked on that shows your knowledge of basic WT editing, such as sourcing and formatting. We would also like to see the profile show some Native American research and use of reliable sources. The project's leadership team (currently myself and the project coordinators) will review the profile before awarding the badge. Do you have a profile you would like to show us?
+9 votes
I'm interested in joining the project. I'm mostly interested in researching the Matoys and Sheltons that were old settlers, and a strange Royston-Callahan relative that may have also been Cherokee.

An example profile I've made - https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Matoy-14
by J Bourne G2G1 (1.6k points)
Wonderful, thank you, J. Welcome to the project!
+9 votes
I've just discovered my Cherokee and Powhatan ancestry on my maternal side-also Penobscot on my maternal side. I haven't posted it on here because I know I have to have plenty of sources and I'm working on that now. My mission is to complete my ancestry on Ancestry and bring the names over to the Wiki platform. My direct line native is Creecy (Louisa Spencer) Powhatan, daughter of Great Chief Powhatan and Matatishe Winasuke Nonoma Powhatan, and sister of Matoaka-Rebecca Rolfe-Pocahontas Powhatan. I would love to join this and hope it isn't an issue if I take a little longer to get persons added to the tree. Can I join?
by Valora Frazier G2G4 (4.2k points)
Hi Valora,
Thank you for your interest in The Native Americans Project. To be clear, we do not base membership on the personal genealogy of the applicant, but on the applicant's ability to do good research with reliable sources. Unsourced internet trees, such as those found at Ancestry, are not considered to be reliable sources. If you want to join the project, please show us a profile that illustrates your ability to do good research with reliable sources.
Yes, I will do so. Do I just put the profile up in this forum?
yes, please :)
+8 votes
Good Afternoon fellow researchers,

Would like to help add profiles for the Round Valley Indian Tribes and Paskenta Band of Nomlaki of Northern California.

My 4th great maternal grandmother was Jane Chistower, full blooded Nomlaki, division of Wintu Penutian tribe.

Sincerely, Shirley Park
by Shirley Park G2G Crew (800 points)
Hi Shirley,

Thank you for your interest in the Native Americans Project. Do you have a profile that shows us basic editing skills with some Native American research and sourcing?

Thanks!
Still building on profiles for Martha (Ayers) Britton Doan Youree and Lela (Doan) Shields Clark.  Have not added Jane Chistower yet who was Nomlaki. Have some Native American census, obituaries, etc. to add. Will let you know when have updated profiles with Native American sources.

Thank you, Sincerely,

 Shirley Park
+7 votes
As a descendant and relative I have worked for over thirty years to clear up misconceptions around, and false claims of, Native heritage and identity. I work every day in the areas of language and cultural preservation with members of my extended family, who are from a handful of Nations in the "US" and "Canada". Most of the work I've done on here has been cleaning up and sourcing profiles I come across that I already have solid sourcing for. I've been away for a bit, so it may take me a while to find any I want to use as examples. I have come back to look into some of the tangled issues around the various Powhatan, Pamunkey and related Peoples' documentation (or lack thereof), having seen what a mess these trees tend to be. Some of these people are my ancestors, so I also have a personal interest in keeping these ancestors' records accurate.
by Marie Allen G2G Crew (420 points)
edited by Marie Allen
Hi Marie,

Thank you for your interest in accurate research and the Native Americans Project. I look forward to seeing your example profile.
+8 votes
Hi, Sarah, I don't need the project badge but I do occasionally work on Natives in the area of Maine (who were married to Acadians).  I would like to keep up on the news from the project.  Would it be possible to add me to your google group for that purpose?  I mainly have questions about names and location names.  Cindy (co-leader Acadians Project).
by Cindy Cooper G2G6 Pilot (324k points)
Hi Cindy,

Currently the google group is being used primarily to see the activity on the profiles managed by the project. Questions about names and locations will likely get more attention on g2g with the Native_Americans tag, or you can message me and I will help.

Thanks,

Sarah
+6 votes
I am already working on research on Powhatan Native Americans as there is one in my family tree; Mary Ann Baskett (Little Flower).  I have joined a group for that tribe and since most of the others are pre-1700 I should join this project also. My first effort is to verify the information on my trees I did on Ancestry so I can hopefully add those ancestors to my tree here, and then to do more learning about this tribe and also the Cherokee.  I am really new to all this so will need help for sure. Here is the profile I did for my father, which of course was easy since I personally knew all the details:  -and here we go I can't get the profile link to past here at all, He is Lamb -8666
by Linda Jane Lamb G2G3 (3.8k points)
L. Lamb,

Apologies for the delay in responding. The project lost the volunteer who was responding to new member requests. Are you still with us?

The sourcing on Lamb-8666 looks fine.

Is there a profile of a Native American you're working on?

Also, I could not find the Little Flower profile you referenced.
+6 votes
I am part Native on my mother’s side. Mostly Metis, but I believe Ojibwe as well. I would absolutely love to learn as much as possible.
by Laura Gerwood G2G3 (3.5k points)

Laura,

Apologies for the huge delay in responding. The project lost the volunteer who was handling new member requests. If you're still interested in joining the project, please review the opening post, especially:

"We are asking everyone who wants to join to share a profile you've worked on that demonstrates your understanding of basic WikiTree editing. We would really like to see basic knowledge of Native Americans profile guidelines, research and sourcing (see Project Guidelines) You must have been a member of WikiTree for at least 30 days, have made at least 100 contributions to WikiTree profiles and (if working on profiles of pre-1700 Native Americans) have successfully completed the Pre-1700 Quiz."

+6 votes
Hey im Jahkel Hooker or Zukarimekutah Saponi aka The Bravehearted Readbull my mother side of the family came from Virginia to North Carolina (Halifax, Warren, Nash county) my maternal family has been in NC for over 300 Years but prior to that they were in Virginia and my pops side I'm still researching but I've found Native Roots on both sides .... I just need to add the information... I'm Looking to join the project.
by Jahkel Hooker G2G Crew (830 points)
Hello cousin, good to see you here!

I hope someone from the Native Americans Project will contact you soon... seems it is now without leadership.

These are the requirements to join the project:

We now ask everyone who wants to join the project to meet the following requirements before they request to join:
* be an honor-code-signing member of WikiTree for at least 30 days
* make at least 100 contributions to WikiTree profiles
* successfully complete the Pre-1700 Quiz
* share a profile you've created or edited that demonstrates your understanding of Wikitree editing generally, and NA guidelines, research and sourcing.
* find a Natives Americans Project Team you'd like to join.
+6 votes
Sarah, as co-leader of the Acadian project, I am aware that we manage some profiles of Native Americans (who lived in what is now Maine).  I would be happy to coordinate with you to determine who should manage them (perhaps jointly), how to develop missing information and prove/refute unsourced information and stories.  Let me know if you or another person would be interested in this collaboration.
by Cindy Cooper G2G6 Pilot (324k points)
Cindy, apologies for the delay. Sarah had to step down as project Leader of the NA project. Please contact me with details and I'm happy to take a look.

Jillaine, project coordinator
+8 votes

Hey- I'd like to join the project, if possible. Most of my experience in this area has been with Lakhota & Northern Cheyenne ancestry, but my own interest has more to do with the Salishan-speaking peoples of Washington state. Outside of my genealogy work, I am a linguistics student who has spent some time researching & studying indigenous North American languages, a great area of personal interest.

As requested, a profile I've recently worked on:

Ikhú Háŋska (Sarah) "Long Chin" Gillespie

by Thomas Koehnline G2G6 Pilot (102k points)
Thomas, apologies for the delay in responding. The project lost its volunteer who was processing new member requests.

That profile is really nicely done.

Are you still interested in joining?
+5 votes
I am not Native but was told most of my early life that we were so I became interested and involved in Native issues and activities in the '90s.  I'm noticing that there are insufficient categories and profiles for Native Americans.  I think I can, at least, get a few things added and I have quite a few contacts who might join and add a lot more.  My interest would be New York State nations and Eastern Woodlands people into Canada.
by Lorraine O'Dell G2G6 Mach 4 (40.7k points)
We now ask everyone who wants to join the project to meet the following requirements before they request to join:
* be an honor-code-signing member of WikiTree for at least 30 days
* make at least 100 contributions to WikiTree profiles
* successfully complete the Pre-1700 Quiz
* share a profile you've created or edited that demonstrates your understanding of Wikitree editing generally, and NA guidelines, research and sourcing.
* find a Natives Americans Project Team you'd like to join.
OK, passed on 1-3, looking for a profile to share for #4 and will look for a project team I'm interested in.  Do I share the profile here, in an answer to this?  I still find communicating on WikiTree confusing.
You can just post the link to the profile here.
OK, not my best profile but includes some things not in others.  I think I still need some categories in his profile.  It still irritates me that you can copy and paste here.  Oliver-4529.  and the team I'm interested is is the Native Americans Categorization Team.  Thank you.
Lorraine,

apologies for the delay in responding. We lost a key volunteer early in the year.

If you're still interested in joining, let me know.  We need help in both areas you mention-- categorization and addressing copy/paste profiles.
Yes, absolutely, still interested. You can see the profile I did for Daniel Nimham, Nimham-1.  If I remember correctly, I did not find a proper category for his Wappinger nationality.  I'm still pretty new, having rejoined WikiTree a few months ago, and constantly learning.  I'm looking forward to working on the project.  I'm currently trying to get in touch with someone for some information on an individual I met several years ago who I think should have a profile.
Profile of [[Nimham-1|Daniel Nimham]] that I created.
Lorraine, I've asked the project leader to give you the project badge.

I also made a few edits to the profile to give you an idea of strengthening (and even simplifying) sourcing.

Daniel is the first Wappinger we have apparently, so a category did not exist; I created one. The category you initially used is too high level and generated an error so I removed it.
Thank you, Jillaine.
+4 votes
Please add me
by Mary Ferris G2G4 (4.2k points)

Apologies for the delay in responding. 

We now ask everyone who wants to join the project to meet the following requirements before they request to join:
* be an honor-code-signing member of WikiTree for at least 30 days
* make at least 100 contributions to WikiTree profiles
* successfully complete the Pre-1700 Quiz
* share a profile you've created or edited that demonstrates your understanding of Wikitree editing generally, and NA guidelines, research and sourcing.
* find a Natives Americans Project Team you'd like to join.
I'd like to join the Categorization Team and/or the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Team.  I created a profile for Daniel Nimham Nimham-1.  I have more trouble formatting these G2G messages than profiles; different editor, I guess.  I think I saw somewhere in the project pages someone working on Lenape which I'm also interested in as well as the Nanticoke.
+3 votes
Yes I am interested in the Cherokee Tribe and the Chickasaw Tribe but mostly in the Cherokee from the 1700's to about 1830 before the removal and the ones that stayed in Tennessee and Georgia after the removal.
by Brenda Winters G2G3 (3.6k points)

Brenda, apologies for the late response.

We now ask everyone who wants to join the project to meet the following requirements before they request to join:
* be an honor-code-signing member of WikiTree for at least 30 days
* make at least 100 contributions to WikiTree profiles
* successfully complete the Pre-1700 Quiz
* share a profile you've created or edited that demonstrates your understanding of Wikitree editing generally, and NA guidelines, research and sourcing.
* find a Natives Americans Project Team you'd like to join.
+3 votes
Hi all.  My name is Bob Aldrich and I have been researching our family's connection to the Creek/Muscogee of Alabama since we received checks from the Bureau of Indian Affairs in the mid-1970s.  Our family connection is through my paternal grandmother Bessie Mae Campbell Aldrich.  There is much is-information about our family and how it connects with Creek Chief Menawa. I've just finished writing a book titled *The Campbells, The Creeks and Chief Menawa" looking into and hopefully unraveling some of the twisted threads and misinterpretations of family lore and comparing it to historical facts.  

The families I've been working on include: Aldrich, Campbell, Rider, Weed, Cornells, and off-branches from those families.

I'd be interested in others who are researching the Creeks from Shelby, Jefferson, Tallapoosa, Coosa, Chilton, Jefferson and other surrounding counties in Alabama.

Thanks.

Bob Aldrich
by Bob Aldrich G2G Rookie (290 points)

Bob, apologies for the delayed response. We lost a key volunteer early this year.

Your research interests sound like a great fit with the project. 

We now ask everyone who wants to join the project to meet the following requirements before they request to join:
* be an honor-code-signing member of WikiTree for at least 30 days
* make at least 100 contributions to WikiTree profiles
* successfully complete the Pre-1700 Quiz
* share a profile you've created or edited that demonstrates your understanding of Wikitree editing generally, and NA guidelines, research and sourcing.
* find a Natives Americans Project Team you'd like to join.
+2 votes
Interested in Native American history, trying to prove linage of my ancestor Betsey Harris Tilley. Her great grandson and great nephew filed for the Cherokee act. I am entering the profile of her great nephew Robert Harris (Harris-29682).
by Bob Tilley G2G6 (6.1k points)
We now ask everyone who wants to join the project to meet the following requirements before they request to join:
* be an honor-code-signing member of WikiTree for at least 30 days
* make at least 100 contributions to WikiTree profiles
* successfully complete the Pre-1700 Quiz
* share a profile you've created or edited that demonstrates your understanding of Wikitree editing generally, and NA guidelines, research and sourcing.
* find a Natives Americans Project Team you'd like to join.
+2 votes
I thought I had indicated interest in this group some time ago but I don't think I received a response.  I'm not Native though I was raised believing we had Native ancestry but I've never found it.  I was somewhat active in Native issues in the 1990s and attended several conferences and met a lot of people.  I've noticed a lack of categories for some Native nations and groups.  I created a profile for Daniel Nimham but see that there is no category for Wappinger while they are mentioned in other category descriptions.  I would be happy to contribute profiles of Native people I'm somewhat familiar with and to suggest categories for them.
by Lorraine O'Dell G2G6 Mach 4 (40.7k points)
You did ask earlier, above. We lost our volunteer who was responding to members. I've responded to your earlier post.

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