Every day, I receive e-mails very similar to this one.
“My family has always said that we were part Native American. I want to prove this so that I can receive help with money for college.”
The reasons vary, and not everyone wants to prove their heritage in order to qualify for some type of assistance. Some want to find their tribe and join to reclaim their lost heritage. Some want to honor their persecuted and hidden ancestors, undoing some of the wickedness of the past, and some simply seek the truth. Regardless of why, they are all searching for information lost to them.
I’d like to talk about three topics in proving Native Ancestry. First, I’d like to do some myth-busting. Second, I’d like to talk a little about conventional research and third, I’d like to discuss what DNA can, and can’t, do for you.
As you read this blog, please click on the links. I’m not going to repeat something I’ve already covered elsewhere.
Myth-Busting
Myth 1 – Free College
There is no free college for Native Americans. There are sometimes scholarships and grants available, mostly by the individual tribes themselves, for their official members.
Myth 2 – Joining a Tribe
Many people think that if they can only figure out which tribe their ancestor descends from, they can join. This is untrue. Each tribe is a sovereign nation, and they get to determine their criteria for membership. Most tribes require a specific percentage of Native “blood,” called blood quantum, in addition to being able to document which tribal member you descend from. Some tribes require as much as 25% Native heritage, and most require at least 1/16th Native heritage, which is one great-great grandparent. If you don’t know who in your family was a tribal member it’s unlikely that you would be able to meet the blood quantum requirement.
Myth 3 – DNA Testing Will Reveal my Tribe
Generally, DNA testing does not provide us with the information needed to determine a tribe, although it can clearly tell, using y-line or mitochondrial DNA testing, whether your direct paternal or maternal line was or was not Native. Sometimes you will be able to infer a tribe based on your matches and their documented history, but the definition of tribes, their names and locations have changed over time. We are working on improving this ability, but the science simply isn’t there yet and the number of Native people who have tested remains small.
Simply put, most federally recognized tribes aren’t interested in more tribal members. More members mean a smaller piece of the pie for existing members. The pot of resources, whatever resources you’re discussing, is only so large and it must be shared by all tribal members.
What is a Tribe?
Tribes in the US fall into two categories. When most people think about tribes they are talking about federally recognized tribes. Those are tribes that have some continuity with the past, such as they have always been a tribe, or they still retain tribal lands, etc., and the federal government recognizes them as such. These are the tribes that qualify for government programs and many own casinos. As you might imagine, with the influx of casino money, the desire to join a tribe has increased significantly.
The second category is non-federally recognized tribes. Some are state recognized and others, not at all. State recognition does not in any way guarantee federal or state funding and there are no universal standards for state recognition. In other words, your mileage may vary, widely. Non-federally recognized tribes are often run as non-profit entities. In many cases, these tribes will help people research and document their genealogy and may be more open to tribal membership for those connecting with their Native heritage.
Be aware that some “tribes” that fall into the non-federally recognized category may be less than ethical. Some tend to come and go. In one case, to apply to join, one had to provide information such as social security numbers and a complete family pedigree including your children. In some cases, membership is very expensive, hundreds of dollars, but is available to almost anyone for the right price. When evaluating tribes that are not federally recognized, if something sounds fishy, it probably is. Caution is the watchword.
In general, the federally recognized tribes do not feel kindly towards the non-federally recognized tribes and view them as “fake,” interlopers trying to get part of that pie. Of course, the non-federally recognized tribes feel differently; that they are reclaiming their heritage denied them. Native American politics is nothing new and is fraught with landmines.
No federally recognized tribes, to the best of my knowledge, have considered DNA testing as a criteria for membership. No federally recognized tribe has endorsed or participated in DNA testing that I’m aware of. This does not mean that individuals have not privately tested.
Traditional Genealogy Research
Given the criteria for membership in federally recognized tribes, traditional genealogy is the only way to obtain the type of information required. If your family history includes a tribal name, and east of the Mississippi, that most often is Cherokee, contact the various Cherokee tribes to inquire about membership criteria. If the membership criteria is 25% blood quantum, and you must live on the reservation, you’re toast…..no need to continue that line of research if your goal is to join the tribe.
If your goal is simply to find your Native ancestor, that’s another matter entirely. Begin by using the traditional research tools.
First, look at where your ancestor or that family line was located. Did they migrate from elsewhere? How were they listed in the census? Was someone listed as other than white, indicating mixed race? Check the records where they lived, tax records and others to see if there is any indication of non-European heritage. Remember that your non-white ancestor would have retained their “darker” countenance for at least 2 generations after being admixed. Many Native people were admixed very early.
So first, check the normal genealogy records and look for hints and traces of non-European ancestry.
Second, turn to Native resources that might reflect the Native people in the areas where your family is or was found. The Access Genealogy site is absolutely wonderful and has an amazingly complete set of records including searchable tribal rolls. In addition, I add information almost daily to the Native Heritage Project at www.nativeheritageproject.com, which is searchable. There are many more resources including several collections at Ancestry.com.
Hopefully, these records will help narrow your focus in your family tree to a particular person or two, not just a general branch. Family rumors like “Grandma was a Cherokee Princess” are particularly unuseful. What they more likely mean is that there was indeed some Native ancestry someplace in her line. Cherokee has become a generic word like Kleenex. It may also have meant that Indian heritage was claimed to cover much less desirable African heritage. Institutionalized discrimination existed against any people of color in pre-1967 America, but Indians generally retained some rights that people of African ancestry did not. Laws varied by state and time. Take a look at my blog about Anti-Miscegenation Laws and when they were overturned.
Now, let’s look at DNA testing to see what it can do for you.
DNA Testing to Prove Native Ancestry
There are three types of DNA testing that you can do to prove Native Ancestry. Two are very focused on specific family lines, and one is much more general.
- Mitochondrial for your direct maternal line.
- Y-line for your direct paternal line – if you are a male. Sorry ladies.
- Autosomal to test your ethnic mix and one direct marker test for Native ancestors.
On a pedigree chart, these genealogical lines look like this:
You can see the path that the blue Y chromosome takes down the paternal line to the brother and the path the red mitochondrial DNA takes down the maternal line to both the brother and the sister. Autosomal tests the DNA of all of the 16 ancestral lines shown here, but in a different sort of way.
Let’s look at each type of testing separately.
Y-Line DNA – For Paternal Line Testing for Males
The Y-line testing tests the Y chromosome which is passed intact from father to son with no DNA from the mother. This is the blue square on the pedigree chart. In this way, it remains the same in each generation, allowing us to compare it to others with a similar surname to see if we are from the same “Smith” family, for example, or to others with different surnames, in the case of adoption or Native heritage. Native American genetics isn’t terribly different than adoptees in this situation, because different English surnames were adopted by various family members, into the late 1800s and sometimes into the early 1900s, depending on the location.
Y-line DNA can tell you whether or not you descend from a common male genealogically when compared to another testing participant. Small mutations do take place and accumulate over time, and we depend on those so that we don’t all “look alike” genetically. It can also tell you by identifying your deep ancestral clan, called a haplogroup, whether or not you descend from early Native Americans who were here before contact with Europeans. For that matter, it can also tell you if you descend from those of African, European or Asian ancestry.
Scientists know today that there are only two primary haplogroups indicating deep ancestry that are found among Native American males who were here prior to contact with Indo-Europeans, and those haplogroups are C and Q3. It is not accurate to say that all C and Q3 individuals exist only in the American Native population, but the American Native population is part of the larger group worldwide that comprises C and Q3. We find some haplogroup C and Q3 in Europe but none in African populations, although we do learn more every single day in this infant science.
This sometimes becomes confusing, because the single most common male haplogroup among current Cherokee tribal members who have tested is R1b. How can this be, you ask? Clearly, one of three possibilities exists:
- The Cherokee (or those tribes who were assimilated into the Cherokee) adopted a European male into the tribe or a European male fathered a child that was subsequently raised as Cherokee.
- The R1b ancestor was not adopted into the tribe, maintained their European/American identity but married a Cherokee individual woman and their descendants are recognized as Cherokee today.
- There is some level of R1b admixture in the Native population that preceded contact with Europeans that we have not yet identified.
Because of the unique haplogroups for Native Americans who preceded European contact, Y-line is the only way to positively confirm that a specific line is or is not of Native American descent. This obviously applies to all of the individuals in the pedigree chart who directly descend from the oldest known ancestor in this paternal line.
Y-line testing does not indicate anything about the contributions of the other ancestors in this family tree. In other words, you could be 3/4th Native, with only the direct paternal line being European, and this test would tell you nothing at all about those other three Native lines.
When ordering DNA tests at Family Tree DNA, which is where I recommend that you test, everyone is encouraged to join projects. There are several types of projects, but to begin with, you should join your surname project. Not only does this group you with others whom you are likely to match, but this also assures that you receive the project based discounts. I blogged about how to find and join relevant projects.
You can test at 12, 25, 37, 67 or 111 marker “locations” on the Y chromosome. I generally recommend 37 or 67 to begin which gives you enough to work with but isn’t terribly expensive. At Family Tree DNA, you can always upgrade later, but it’s less expensive in total to test more initially.
Family Tree DNA provides significant tools for Y-line DNA as well as Mitochondrial DNA. At Family Tree DNA, for all their tests, you are provided with the e-mail addresses of your matches. At Ancestry and 23andMe, you contact matches through their internal message system. My experience has been that direct e-mails have a better response rate.
The person looking for Native Heritage will be most interested in their haplogroup designation. If your haplogroup is either Q or C, you’ll want to join your haplogroup project, minimally, as well as other relevant Native American projects, and work with the administrators for further testing. Remember, neither haplogroup Q nor C are always Native, so deeper testing may be in order. You may also match others with confirmed Native heritage, including a tribe.
If the haplogroup is not Native, then you’ll have to take a look at possible reasons why.
One can never interpret non-Native haplogroup results of any one line to answer the much broader questions of, “do I have Native heritage”, “how much” and “where?” What you can do at that point is to continue to test other lines in order to discover the identity of your Native American ancestor.
Obviously, the Y-line test is only for males. Ladies, I feel your pain. However, these next tests are for both sexes.
Mitochondrial DNA – For Direct Maternal Line Testing for Both Sexes
Mitochondrial DNA is inherited by all children from their mother only, with no admixture from the father. Women obtain their mitochondrial DNA from their mother, who got it from their mother, on up the line into infinity. This is the red circle on the right hand side of the pedigree chart. Like Y-line DNA, mitochondrial DNA is passed intact from one generation to the next, except for an occasional mutation that allows us to identify family members and family lines.
Unfortunately, it does not follow any surname. In fact the surname changes with every generation when women marry. This makes it more challenging to work with genealogically, but certainly not impossible. Because of the surname changes in every generation, there are no “surname” projects for mitochondrial DNA, per se, but there are other types of projects. For example, the Mothers of Acadia project is using mitochondrial DNA to reconstruct the Acadian families including those of Native American heritage.
There are three levels of testing you can take for mitochondrial DNA at Family Tree DNA, which is where I recommend that you test. The mtDNA, the mtDNAPlus and the Full Sequence. The mtDNA test is a starter test that will provide you with a base haplogroup, but will leave people searching for Native ancestry needing a more complete test for full haplogroup identification confirming Native ancestry. I strongly recommend the full sequence test, but if the budget just won’t allow that, then the mtDNAPlus will do until you can afford to upgrade. Family Tree DNA is the only major lab that tests the full sequence region, plus, they have the largest matching data base in the industry.
To put this in perspective for you, the mtDNA and the mtDNAPlus tests both test about 10% of your mitochondrial DNA and the full sequence test tests all of your 16,569 mitochondrial locations. You can then compare them with other people who have taken any of those 3 tests. Pricing for the mtDNAPlus is currently $139 and the full sequence is $199.
MtDNA testing is not as popular as Y-line testing because it’s more difficult to use genealogically as last names change every generation. When you look at your matches, you have no idea whatsoever if you might be related to these people in a genealogically relevant time frame by looking at their last names. Those who have invested the effort to collaboratively work on their mtDNA matches, assuming a full sequence match and a shared geographical history as well, have been pleasantly surprised by what they’ve found.
A haplogroup assigning deep ancestry is provided through mitochondrial testing, so like the Y-line, depending on the haplogroup assigned, you will know if your ancestors were here before European contact. Maternal haplogroups that indicate Native heritage include A, B, C, D and X. Like Y-line DNA testing, none of these haplogroups are exclusive to Native Americans, so a full sequence level test will be required to confirm a Native American subgroup.
After you receive your results, you can enter the mtDNA and mtDNAPlus portions into public data bases. There are no public data bases for the full sequence segment because there may be medical implications in some of those mutations, so they are not displayed publicly although they are compared privately within the Family Tree DNA data base. You will want to enter your data and check for matches at www.mitosearch.org (upload directly from your matches page at Family Tree DNA), www.smgf.org and www.ancestry.com, although beware of Ancestry’s accuracy issues.
Update: As of 2019, mitosearch and SMGF no longer exist and Ancestry no longer sells Y and mitochondrial DNA tests, having destroyed their database.
Testing the Y-line and mitochondrial DNA individually gives us a great deal of very specific information about 2 lines in your pedigree chart. The best method of identifying Native American ancestors is indeed to test as many lines on your DNA pedigree chart using this methodology as possible. Let’s take a minute to look at how to create a DNA pedigree chart.
DNA Pedigree Chart
If your Y-line and mitochondrial DNA have proven not to be Native, that doesn’t mean that the rest of your lines aren’t.
Let’s take a look at how to create a DNA pedigree chart so that you can focus your Y-line and mitochondrial DNA testing for other lines.
The purpose of a DNA pedigree chart is to provide guidance in terms of inheritance and also to provide a way of documenting your progress. My chart is shown below, as an example.
You can see the Y-line of my father and the mitochondrial line of my mother, on both ends of the pedigree chart. At the top of each line, I have recorded the haplogroup information for each family. Color coding each line helps in tracking descendants who would carry the DNA of the ancestor of that line. For example, my mother’s father’s mother’s line is the yellow Miller line. I need to find a daughter of my grandfather’s sisters, or their children, or their daughter’s children, to test for that mitochondrial DNA line. Which reminds me, I need to call my cousin. Family reunions, picnics and holidays are great for this type of thing. Sadly, so are funerals.
I blogged about how to put together your own DNA pedigree chart. If you’re Native and adopted, then refer to the adoptee blog instead, or in addition.
But sometimes, we can’t find the right people in order to test, so we move to autosomal testing to help us fill in the blanks.
Autosomal Testing – For Both Sexes – The Rest of the Story
Autosomal DNA testing tests all of your 23 pairs of chromosomes that you inherit from both of your parents. You get half of each chromosome from each parent. You can see this pattern on the pedigree chart, represented by all of the 16 genealogical lines. Therefore, as you move up that tree, you should have inherited about 25% of your DNA from each grandparent, about 12.5% of your DNA from each great-grandparent, as have all of their other great-grandchildren.
Therefore beginning with your parents, you carry the following approximate amount of DNA from each of these ancestors. I say approximate, because while you do receive exactly 50% of your DNA from each parent, there is no guarantee that their parents DNA was admixed in your parents such that you receive exactly 25% from each grandparent, but it’s close. You can see the percentages in the chart below.
| Generation | Relationship | % of Their DNA You Carry |
|
1 |
Parents |
50 |
|
2 |
Grandparents |
25 |
|
3 |
Great-grandparents |
12.5 |
|
4 |
GG-grandparents |
6.25 |
|
5 |
GGG-grandparents |
3.125 |
|
6 |
GGGG-grandparents |
1.56 |
|
7 |
GGGGG-Grandparents |
0.78 |
Given this chart, if the Native percentage is back beyond 6 generations and drops below the 1% threshold, it’s extremely difficult to discern today.
Autosomal testing will pick up relationships reliably back to about the 6th or 7th generations, and sporadically beyond that.
Autosomal testing provides you minimally with two things. First, with a list of “cousin matches” by percentage and estimated relationship. Second, percentages of ethnicity. It’s this second part that’s most important for the person seeking to prove Native American heritage.
Percentages of Ethnicity
As the field of genetic genealogy has moved forward, research has begun to indicate that certain autosomal markers are found in higher or lower frequencies in different ethnic populations.
For example, if someone has the Duffy Null allele, or genetic marker, we know they positively have African admixture. We don’t know how much African admixture, or from which line, or when that individual with African admixture entered their family tree, but we know for sure they existed.
Attempting to determine the population frequency of varying markers and what that means relative to other populations is the key to this analysis. Few markers are simply present or absent in populations, but are found in varying frequencies. Some populations are widely studied in the research literature, and others are virtually untouched. Thousands have only been recently discovered as part of the National Geographic, Genographic project.
The process of compiling this information in a meaningful manner so that it can be analyzed is a formidable task, as the information is often found in nearly inaccessible academic and forensic research publications. It’s difficult to determine sometimes if the DNA analysis of 29 individuals in a small village in northern Italy is, for example, representative of that village as a whole, of northern Italy, or more broadly for all of Italy. Is it representative of Italy today or Italy historically? These and other similar questions have to be answered fully before the data from autosomal testing can be useful and reliable.
Let’s take a look at all 3 of the contemporary autosomal tests and what they have to offer.
Note: as of 2019, MyHeritage is also a major player in the autosomal DNA testing space.
Family Tree DNA
Family Tree DNA sells the Family Finder test. Right now it is priced at $79 or bundled with attractive pricing with either the Y-line or mitochondrial DNA tests. I often like to use this tool in conjunction with the Y-line and mitochondrial DNA tests to see, if you match someone closely, whether you are actually related to them in a recent timeframe or if it is further back. Family Tree DNA is the only one of the autosomal testing companies that has the ability to do this type of advanced comparison. Compared to 23andMe and Geno 2.0, they are the only ones to offer traditional Y-line and mitochondrial DNA testing which provides individual marker results and matches.
In addition to a list of autosomal matches, you will receive your breakdown of ethnicity, by percent. The results below are for the same man with Native ancestry whose Geno 2.0 results are shown in the Geno 2.0 – First Peek blog.
You can read more about the Family Tree DNA autosomal product on their FAQ.
23andMe
Another company that sells autosomal testing is http://www.23andme.com. In addition to a list of cousins, you also receive admixture percentages, and their specialty, health traits. You also receive a paternal and maternal haplogroup, but with no markers for personal comparison. These Y-line and mitochondrial results are not as accurate at the Geno 2.0 nor the Family Tree DNA Y-line and mitochondrial DNA full sequence tests.
Be aware that while people who test at Family Tree DNA are interested in genealogy, the typical person at 23andMe tested for the health portion, not the genealogy portion, and may not answer contact requests or may know very little about their family history.
Right now, their test is $99, and you can download your results and upload them to Family Tree DNA for an additional $89, making the total price similar to the Family Tree DNA test. However, you need to be somewhat technically savvy to complete the download/upload process.
23andMe recently released a new version of their software which added quite a bit of resolution after years of being woefully behind. Native American wasn’t even a category previously.
Ancestry
Ancestry.com recently introduced an autosomal test. You receive matches and ethnicity percentages. However, their ethnicity percentages have significant issues and I would not recommend them at this time. Their cousin matches come with no analysis tools. So for now, just skip Ancestry and concentrate on the other resources.
One Last Autosomal Test
One marker value in particular, known as D9S919 is present in about 30% of the Native people. The value of 9 at this marker is not known to be present in any other ethnic group, so this mutation occurred after the Native people migrated across Beringia into the Americas, but long enough ago to be present in many descendants. You can test this marker individually at Family Tree DNA, which is the only lab that offers this test. If you have the value of 9 at this marker, it confirms Native heritage, but if you don’t carry 9, it does NOT disprove Native heritage. After all, many Native people don’t carry it.
To order this test, for existing Family Tree DNA clients, click on the “Order Upgrade” orange button on the right hand side of your personal page, then on “Advanced Test”, then enter “autosomal” in the drop down box, then you will see the list below. D9S919 is the last one and it costs $15. There may be a $10 one time transfer fee as well if your DNA sample is not in the Houston lab.
Swimming in Many Pools
As you can see there are lots of tools available to you that can be used individually or in conjunction with each other. Like anything else, the more work and effort you are willing to devote to the search, the more likely you are to be successful.
Most people test their Y-line and mitochondrial DNA, not just for Native ancestry, but to learn more about the lines they can test for themselves without reaching out to other family members.
Use your DNA pedigree chart to plan who to ask in your extended family to test for which lines.
Plan to test with multiple autosomal testing companies. Autosomal testing in particular is still in its infancy. I like to use the results of multiple companies, especially when you are dealing with small amounts of admixture. They use different markers, combinations, analysis tools and reference populations, so you can expect slightly different results. One company may pick up slight minority admixture while another may not. This has happened repeatedly with both my Native and African minority admixture.
GedMatch
After you obtain your results from either Family Tree DNA or 23andMe, you’ll want to download your raw data results and then upload the file to www.gedmatch.com. This is a privately run “donation” site, not associated with any of the testing companies, meaning there is no subscription or fee to use the tools, but they do appreciate and are funded by donations.
After uploading your results you can utilize several admixture tools to compare and contrast your results.
Getting Help
If you’re struggling with working through your family possibilities for who to test, I do offer a DNA Test Plan service.
If you would like a Personalized DNA Report for Y-line or mitochondrial results, those are available as well.
If you have what amounts to a quick question that I can answer in less than an hour, including prep, I offer the Quick Consult service.
For more extensive consulting, contact me. You can see my services here.
In Summary
Finding our Native ancestors is a way to pay homage to their lives and to the culture that was stripped from their descendants, ironically, by using their own DNA that has been gifted from them to us. Native people, after contact with Europeans were marginalized, and that’s the best that can be said. Many were killed, either intentionally or by European diseases, or enslaved. The results are that Native people left few if any individual records and those that might be available often can’t be identified or linked to them personally. For those who cannot unearth their Native ancestry using conventional genealogical means, genetic testing is the last hope left. Fortunately, the tools and our knowledge improve every day. We’re making great strides with what we can do, enlarging what was a pinhole into a keyhole, allowing us to peer into the past. So, click your heels, order your tests and let’s see where your DNA takes you.
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Hi have 2 different kind of Indian in me but one I really need to knw what tireb I am because that grandpa was the chief of his tribe
how do you get money from the government if you are Native American?
You must be a tribal member. Contact your tribe.
I was told by by grandfather Tomas Sanchez (now deceased) years ago that I am 3/4 Indian. Apache and Zuni. How and where can I get my results.
As described in the article, you can test your Y, mitochondrial or autosomal DNA, or all 3 at Family Tree DNA. The link is on the sidebar.
i was told that i have indain in my blood and i need to how much and it it is true where do i go and how do i do it i live in toronto ,ontario canada
In the article, it explains how different kinds of DNA can be tested to prove Native ancestry. You can take the Family Finder test and you can take the mitochondrial DNA test if you think your Native ancestor is on your mother’s mother’s direct matrilineal line. The link to Family Tree DNA is on the sidebard of my blog. That’s the company to order these tests from.
it would be my fathers side and how much would it be and what is the site
If your father can test, test him. The test you’ll need, whether it be you or him, is the Family Finder test at Family Tree DNA. Their link is on the right hand side of the main blog page. If you think his native ancestor is on his direct paternal side (meaning his surname ancestor) then you can also test his Y DNA. Start with autosomal and ethnic percentages.
Hello..thank u for the extremely useful article..I am a african american female,but my grandmother was half Irish & half Indian..We have pictures and history on my Irish greatgrandfather but nothing on his wife and I wld love to know more about her ,particularly her tribe..So for my question,can u purchase jst the D9S919 test first and which test is best to narrow down tribe.
This article may help you. http://dna-explained.com/2015/03/31/finding-your-american-indian-tribe-using-dna/
I have been tested by both AncestryDNA and 23AndMe. AncestyDNA did not show any Native American, however, 23AndMe did with it showing 0.9% Native American and 0.2%Eastern Asian. We have always been told that our great-great/great and grandfathers parents were Cherokee and Sioux. My mother has passed and there is no way of testing. Through the DNA testing I have found cousins who have shared the same stories from their parents that we were told by my mom. What can you recommend to continue the search for our Cherokee roots.
I think you’re probably looking at more traditional genealogy and triangulation with people who also share Native ancestors perhaps.
Hello. I had testing from connect my DNA. I’m still confused about the results & with the info I received back it still looks foreign to me. I did the test to see if I had any Native American DNA because I heard years ago that my family did. The regions that the results showed my DNA from was baffling to me. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.
Do you know what this mean?:
Your Allele Values for Each Loci Tested
TPOX: 8
TH01: 7, 9.3
D3S1358: 17, 18
VWA: 16, 19
FGA: 23
D13S317: 11
D5S818: 13
D16S539: 11, 13
CSF1PO: 8, 11
D18S51: 16, 17
D7S820: 10, 11
D21S11: 28, 31
D8S1179: 12, 14
Your region rankings are based on the weighted dominance in each of your available regions. They are ranked from strongest on the left to weakest on the right.
Strongest MatchWeakest Match
Africa
Europe
Central/South America
Middle East/North Africa
Asia
Sorry, you selected the wrong testing company testing the wrong markers.
Can you tell me what company I should use & what test I should take to test the correct markers? I’m researching my maternal side. Thanks
This article boils it down to the various types of tests. https://dna-explained.com/2012/10/01/4-kinds-of-dna-for-genetic-genealogy/
If it’s your direct matrilineal line (your mother, her mother, her mother, etc.), then the mitochondrial DNA, but if it’s any other line, then it will have to be autosomal.
Thank you!
Is there a test on the sites you mentioned that test both the mitochondrial and autosomal DNA for a female? I want to make sure I select the correct one. Thanks.
Those are two separate tests. Family Tree DNA is the only company to offer both. Their mitochondrial DNA test is called that but you want the highest level that tests the entire mitochondria and their autosomal test is called Fsmily Finder.
Thanks!
Need some insight…family comes from Caribbean area. I know from research the main tribe there was the Taino/Boriquins Indians both of my parents were born on an island and as far as family stories go we are long time decedents of this area. Do you know if there is enough DNA evidence for inhabitants of this area to compare?
I have written about the Taino. https://dna-explained.com/2015/03/05/haplogroup-a4-unpeeled-european-jewish-asian-and-native-american/
However, how much you can determine may well be a function of which line your Taino ancestry descends through. The bottom line is that you’ll never know if you don’t test. Use the pedigree charts in this article to determine which tests might be appropriate for you. https://dna-explained.com/2012/10/01/4-kinds-of-dna-for-genetic-genealogy/
Roberta I have a question, could Asian, Siberian dna indicate Native American? On ancestry I’m showing Asian, on familytree I’m showing Siberian, on gedmatch I’m showing all kinds of Native American, Amerindian, I know that Native people migrated here over many centuries from Asia in different waves.
I’m Cherokee a cording to my no-I dintifiy paperwork of my adoption. My grandmother full Cherokee. My mom half. Plese help .
You would need to take both the mitochondrial DNA test and the Family Finder test. There is a sale right now. The link to Family Tree DNA is on the sidebar of the blog.
that’s exactly what my non id said thank you .children’s home society
I was told my fathers grandmother was Native American. I did the 23 and me test and it did not show native (but did show .1% japanese , could this be a mistake for native as they were grouped together) Since I am a woman, and my father side was supposed to be part Native, should he be tested and which test would you recommend, y or mito?
It would not be a “mistake” per se. I would suggest that you download your results to GedMatch and use their ethnicity tools. Also, depending on which line your Dad was Native through would depend on which test he should take. https://dna-explained.com/2012/10/01/4-kinds-of-dna-for-genetic-genealogy/
It was my Dad’s grandmother and (also his great great grandfather) who was supposed to be Native. So am I correct in thinking that his grandmother would not show up on his Y test? I read the article but still a bit confused as the best option.
You are correct. You Dad can take the autosomal test only to see if any Native shows up in those results.
Roberta I have a question, could Asian dna, Siberian dna indicate Native American, on Ancestry dna I’m showing Asian, on familytree I’m showing Siberian, on gedmatch I’m showing all kinds of Native people, Amerindian.
Yes, it could.
Thank you Roberta I thought so.
Two years ago I learned that my dad’s mother was full blooded Powhatan Indian. I’m trying to prove it. However, my dad’s father was French. Weird.
If your dad is still living you can test his mitochondrial DNA and his autosomal DNA. If he is not living, you can test your own autosomal DNA through the Family Finder test, although you will only have about half as much as your parent. The link is on the sidebar of the blog.
I have been told my dad is full blooded Shoshone Indian which makes me half how do I find out
Order the Family Finder test from Family Tree DNA which will provide you with ethnicity percentages. If he is full, you should be half. The link is on the sidebar of the blog.
Hi I was adopted when I was 2/12 my mom died and my dad left me with his sister and took off I don’t know there name but I do know my last name befor I was adopted Rodriguez I know how many in calf lol. Will my adopted parent said my mom was Native American that ask but the alameda county calf say that can’t. But my mom side the family found out I was up for adoption I guess that were looking for me so took my adopted parent to court but then never show up. I know my dad is Mexican and went to jail in San Diego . Now I’m 44 and have three kids and would like to know we’re I can go in Texas state were we leave now my husband in the army. And need some one to help with reading and understand I have a learning problem and one my kid have it too. I’m sorry this is long. I hope u can port me the way to start. Thank you from lela
You need to contact http://www.dnaadoption.com for assistance. This article may help too. https://dna-explained.com/2012/12/18/proving-native-american-ancestry-using-dna/
Hello, my father is from Honduras my relatives have said my fathers father my grand father is Central American Indian. Iv had North American Indians tell me I’m Indian but when I share my ancestry to ppl I share what is none. I hate being called a lier and being told prove it!! So is there a DNA test that would specifically shoe Central American DNA? I know in the us that side of the content is not really spoken about, is the a DNA data base for those natives that I can take a test? This is just for me
you never answered my question
how do i get an dna test
The links to order from Family Tree DNA are in the article as well as on the sidebar of this main blog page. There are three different kinds of tests to order, depending on where you think the DNA may be in your family tree. This short article may help you make that decision of which of the tests are best for you to order. https://dna-explained.com/2012/10/01/4-kinds-of-dna-for-genetic-genealogy/
When attempting to prove family legends, it’s important to remember that “Cherokee” came to mean “miscellaneous”, and is often used in error.
In my own case, my ancestor was actually Croatoan from NC. In the 1700’s, that group split, and while most were absorbed into the Lumbee of NC, another faction went to SC and were gradually accepted by the local Cheraw. They later crossed into Georgia, and spread out. Over the years, the Georgians mis-heard Cheraw as Cherokee. I’ve even found Alabamans who thought “Cheraw” meant a Cherokee-Choctaw mix!
After years of identifying as a Cherokee descendant but not being able to document that link, I’ve updated my references to show Croatoan. DNA admixture suggests 1/32 blood quantum. Because of intermarriage patterns, there’s a very high probability of kin in the Cherokee, Choctaw, and Creek nations, but no proof yet.
Tribal nations look at four factors for enrollment:
[1] DOCUMENTED ancestry, not DNA admixture;
[2] Relationship to existing tribal members (here’s where DNA can help, if you have kin who are already members who are willing to acknowledge you and be tested),
[3] Active participation in the community and willingness to live on tribal lands (at your own expense), and
[4] Evidence of good character and reasonably clean criminal record.
As Ms. Estes say, they are NOT trying to increase the membership rolls, but in many cases are actively purging them. Some nations set a short deadline for parents to enroll newborn children. None are actively recruiting people who suddenly learned or was told an ancestor was Indian. Many feel that if you weren’t born into the community, you can’t wedge your way in as an adult.
Hope this helps!
Nvwadohiyada (healing and peace be with you),
Brian Wilkes
We know my late husband’s grandmother was full Tlingit Indian from Alaska. No records for anyone beyond her. My son wants to do a DNA. Would it show relatives on her side, or should his sister do the test. Grandpa on dads side was from France.no info on his side either.
It will show them if any of them have tested. You won’t know until you test, plus you accrue matches as more people test.
I do not carry the Y-DNA of a Native American ancestor, but my grandmother comes from a Native American paternal line. I found a 3rd cousin 2x removed who had the same line who took a Y-DNA test that confirmed the Native American. Do you know much about the Tapp family descended from the Wicocomico Tribe in the Powhatan Confederacy.
I know that the Y DNA of that line proves Native ancestry, but I don’t know a lot about that family.
I am concerned about DNA testing. History shows too many evils unleashed onto the world due to human prejudice. So, what is to stop the evils of WW2 from occurring again, once those with prejudices have DNA evidence, voluntarily given, by those of us searching for answers? Also, what is in place to prevent insurance companies from discriminating based on DNA results (for possible illness, or from refusing to insure a specific heritage because they show higher rates of heart disease)? What will stop future generations from cloning someone’s DNA? We all know that laws are not always followed, justice does not always prevail, and good does not always defeat evil.
Thank you for your website.
GINA, the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act was signed into law in 2008, so health insurance companies cannot discriminate. Furthermore, a genetic genealogy test has a “chain of custody issue” meaning that there is nothing that says it’s really the DNA of the person whose name is on the account. My name is on about 30 accounts, many of them male. If an insurance company really wants your DNA, any blood test that you take for health reason will do just fine. They don’t need genetic genealogy. http://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/special-topics/genetic-information/index.html
My experience has been that DNA testing has had just the opposite effect – that of showing people just how closely we are connected to everyone else.
Testing for genetic genealogy or any other reason is a personal decision.
Thank you for your reply. It was informative, and I apppreciate it.
I agree that DNA has proven how closely we are all woven together. I also feel that DNA has proven that there is only one race, the human race. I am grateful for DNA testing as it has helped to solve mysteries, provide justice, provide closure, and open exciting doorways into history. However, I cannot help but be concerned about those that might decide to use DNA information for the wrong reasons. I am hoping that at this point in history, humans are wise enough to use the blessing of DNA testing for good.
I am currently in the U.S. and I have had so many issues with immigration. I know our family blood line has more that half Native American. Could finding out my heritage help me with my immigration status?
I don’t know. It’s outside of my area of expertise.
Hi,
My husband was adopted. He is now 60 years old. He knows some things about his history.
He is currently trying to find out how much native or aboriginal blood he actually has.
Can your tests determine this?
Thanks,
Hope you can help.
Can you recommend at test for this subject and what is the cost?
The information about the different tests is in the article. If you want a shorter article, here’s one about the different kinds of tests. https://dna-explained.com/2012/10/01/4-kinds-of-dna-for-genetic-genealogy/
The tests vary in cost, but if you click through the link you can see the various tests and how much they cost. Sometimes they are bundled if you order more than one.
You should also contact http://www.dnaadoption.com and utilize their classes and services.
My mother believes her her real dad was 100 native. That her white mother got impregnated by while her white mothers husband was off in world war 2 . I want to help her prove or disprove this as her mother is deceptive about the issue. What should she do to find out. The native man has since passed away but he has other children who my mother has met and they think she is there sister. Please help. Thanks.
She can take the Family Finder test. She can ask one of the man’s other children to take the same test. If they are closely related, as in half-siblings, it will answer your question.
I’ve been told that I’ve got Cherokee Indian in me an I would like to find out
Great – order the Family Finder test to find out.
I have gotten my results from Ancestry, it shows that I am 1//3 Native American. I am also an
artist and would very much like to find my Tribe so that I can sell at Indian Markets. I have been told that I am Apache and Yaqui. Where do I go to verify this?
Thank you
One third is more than one grandparent, so the genealogy should be easy to do. You’ll need to do the genealogy and then contact the tribe to see what they require for enrollment.
My mother’s father’s mother may have been NA. I ordered the Mtfull sequence. Did I order the correct test?
You didn’t say who you ordered the test for. The mtDNA will give you your direct matrilineal line only, so if the test is for you, it will now show you your mother’s father’s mother. You need to test your mother’s father or any of your mother’s father’s siblings or their descendants through all females.
My name is Linda, and I have 3 bro,s one past away back in 57,anyway I want no money but just to find out what tribe I could enroll in as my mom Cleo said she was Indian and that she had lived in Sioux City,She said my grandfather was Charakee,and that her mother was Souix, Although no one can find any records of them being listed on a tribe but everyone who knew my mom sais she was Indain. Her Parents came from Mo,but in two different counties. I would even take a Blood test just so I could find out what tribe, CCould someone Please help me,My daugters children are in a Tribe in Olk,as their father is Indain.
Hi I recently had both of my parents do an ancestry.com DNA test. My mothers results came back 50% native american and my father 37% Native American. We have been identifying as mexican american our entire lives. Although my parents are in their 50’s, my siblings and I are still pretty young and want to know how to go about this situation. We are all interested in finding out what tribe our ancestors were a part of. If you have any advice or tips on what we should do next I would really appreciate it! Thank you.
This will help you, but you’ll need to test at Family Tree DNA.
https://dna-explained.com/2015/03/31/finding-your-american-indian-tribe-using-dna/
I need a DNA test, my percentage is high..my last name speaks for itself.
This seems a bit hopeless. What test do i have done if my mothers fathers mother is seminole and blackfoot but she and my mother have both passed.
The autosomal test would tell you if you have any discernable Native DNA. If any of your mother’s father’s siblings are still living, you can test their mitochondrial DNA, which they would have gotten from their mother.
Hi, I am a little confused … I read the entire article… As a female What test would I use if native ancestory is Paternal Only?
Thanks
You, yourself could only take the autosomal test. However, if you can find a relative that descends from the Native ancestor properly, you can perhaps test the Y DNA.
what blood test would i need to take just to see what all blood lines i have .and what is the total cost.? also where all can i go to have this done locally ?.. thank you
There is no blood test and there is no test to “see all your blood lines.” I wish there was. The only way to find your Native ancestry is as I described in this article, and with the company I mentioned at well.
I took a dna test through dna consultants and my results showed a marker on native american 1 and native american 2 for one parent but can not know which parent. Does this mean I have native american in me or is it one of my parents or my parents ancesters
Unfortunately, this test is years outdated. I recommend you take a contemporary test. Tis article should help you. https://dna-explained.com/2012/12/18/proving-native-american-ancestry-using-dna/
To answer the other part of your question, if you have Native, and it’s real, not a function of a data base with self-identified Native people – then your parents have some Native too, as well as your ancestors. That’s the only way for you to obtain Native DNA.
Had DNA analyzed 45%Native American, how do I break that down to tribal. father and his parents are passed, mother still alive bother her parents are passed also.
This article and the one you just read show the methodology. https://dna-explained.com/2012/12/18/proving-native-american-ancestry-using-dna/
Meant this article. https://dna-explained.com/2015/03/31/finding-your-american-indian-tribe-using-dna/
hi so my middle child is involved with cps unfortunetly, and they say its law to test all of us girls. Indian Anncesstory inquiery. the wierd part of it is that they took our names and our parents and stopped at that. i would think you’d want my grand parents aka as both of my parents parents names. on my dads’ side it’s believed to be Pequote Tribe, due to his mother that didn’t want to claim that in life. as a recent 65th bday we copied some research on that tribe and gave it to my dad. He got chills when seeing pics of the initial chief and said’ it looked like his moms dad”. On my mothers side, its believed to be Cherokee. growing up my parents have disputed that if i’m my dads kid or not. It’s obvious my little brother is, he looks like my dad. they all have a simular blood type and then there is myn o-positive. I’ve asked before if that was possible and got mixed results. Anyways, the cps wker said” that’s all they need and that tribes will know due to they keep track”. After reading this it is appareant that it isn’t entierly correct and that locating all needed info. is difficult and exspensive. According to my dad they saved some of his moms blood to test after she passed and my uncle is going to Conneticate to try to proove that their mom was a Native American, and a Pequote. I dont even know my girls blood type. theese days they just don’t tell you. Thier father was adopted at birth and believes to be Italian. According to my parents, on my dads side to their knowledge: Peqote tribe, and Fin. My moms: Cherroke, Irish. Goodluck to me and this search. All i do know is i don’t look like neither of my parents, and i can’t go any where with out, any tribe aka Native looking at me and telling me that they can tell i’m native, due to my phyiscal features. lol i’m pretty white, blue eyed; but the high defined cheek bones and hair is what the local tribes see, and that i tan easily. Respectfully, Christina
did you get that big message i sent you?
what number do I call to see if I’m a Indian or how much Indian in
If you are searching for your Native American heritage or your tribe, read these two articles:
http://dna-explained.com/2012/12/18/proving-native-american-ancestry-using-dna/
http://dna-explained.com/2015/03/31/finding-your-american-indian-tribe-using-dna/
Greetings – I’ve been trying to learn about how ethnic info is passed from parent to child. The best I can discern is that the amount of ethnic markers passed down is very random, especially as an ethnic group is diluted. My mother was half Native American and half Irish. Her mother’s birth certificate states Native American, as do my mothers maternal parents, tribal rolls, etc. I never knew much about my father’s side, so I ordered a DNA test – for fun really. Surely you’ve guessed what I am about to say…the test showed me at a mere 3% Native. Learning about DNA, this seems possible (that a person’s ethnic group could show as much less or more than actual “blood” on a DNA test), but am I understanding right?
Thanks!
Native people in the US have been heavily admixed for a long time. https://dna-explained.com/2016/02/10/ethnicity-testing-a-conundrum/
Hi Roberta, my question is sort of in line with Kim’s she has a point, as I learn more about dna it’s very complicated, we should not rely so much on percentages, like she started dna is random? I noticed that full siblings might have different percentages, One might be 99% something the other could show maybe 85% of the same ethnicity.
Yes, read this article. https://dna-explained.com/2016/02/10/ethnicity-testing-a-conundrum/
Just because a person has a tale of an Indian princess in the family doesn’t mean that they have any Native American at all. It’s just a tale. Doesn’t even point to the possibility that there might be a Native American in the family. It’s a point of research but it’s not proof. Sometimes I think you give way too much credibility to these stories in people’s scant American Indian tall tales.
If they don’t test though, they will never know if it’s true unless they can find the genealogical paper proof.
Hi Roberta,
I would like to test myself to see how much Native American I am (supposedly my father’s grandmother was full Indian and his grandfather half, I’m not sure though). I’m the only descendant from my father, and being female, I’m thinking I need to take the autosomal DNA test.
Is this the correct test? and does it show the percentage of Native American I might be?
Thank you.
The autosomal test is the only one available to you, given your inheritance path from your father. Yes, it gives an ethnicity estimate. Keep the word estimate in mind.
New order for SNP test D9S919, today!
Hi there!
I posted a nice long comment and it dissapeared! I just wanted to thank you so much for your time and effort to being all of this information to us. Thank you for doing all of the work. I have always wanted to find out about my ancestry on my mom’s side, but was always told that many have tried with no success. My moms mom and dad were both said to be 100% native american, and to look at my mom you would say that it’s true… But unfortunately looks just won’t cut it when it comes to tracing back your DNA. My grandfather passed when my mom was a child, and he never mentioned his parents or his family. My grandmother died at the age of 101 and while I did meet her several times, she spoke very broken English so I did not get to ask many questions. My mom had a very hard childhood so she doesn’t like to talk about it much… So that leaves me with lots of unanswered questions. I was a little confused about which test would be best to purchase in my case. Since it’s on my mom’s side, would it be the matriarchal… Even though it’s both her mom and dad? Again, thank you for all of the wonderful information and thank you in advance for your time.
Grace
You are fortunate that you can test your own mitochondrial DNA to discover your mother’s native heritage on her maternal size. Autosomal will give you ethnicity predictions. You can click on the Family Tree DNA on the sidebar of the blog to order both.
I and my children would like to get help to try to get out indian money both my mom and dad were part indian
You need to be a member of a tribe to do that. Every tribe has their own rules for membership. Contact your tribe for information.
Hi there! I tested my my dna it states that I am 49% Native American does that make my mom full blooded? I’ve hit a brick wall trying to find a paper trail of some type of tribe, any suggestions?
Thank you
Well, 49% would certainly suggest that one of your parents is Native. Sounds like you’re down to paper trail genealogy. If your parent is fully Native, the location where they lived would be your first clue and I’d go from there.
thank you for the information.
My husband was adopted and his birth father was supposedly 50% Native American. Our daughter would like to get DNA testing, but I can’t figure out which test to order for her to show DNA from her father. Can you guide me on this?
The autosomal test is the only test that would show Native for your daughter, so Family Finder. But if your husband will test, his results would be better. He can also test his Y DNA so if his father was the Native person, your husband’s Y DNA would show that if his father’s paternal line was Native.
Roberta, I got my test results today, so what does this mean? I don’t see a nine by itself.
AUTOSOMAL MARKERS PANEL 3
MARKERS VALUE
D9S919 * 17- 19
It means that there is no Native value at this marker.
Thank you for confirming what I was thinking it means.
S.
My mom had Indian and I was born on the 29 Marine base I am trying to find a free DNA place to have a DNA done to find out how much Indian I have in me and I would like to find my tribe I live in California if anyone can help me out u can email me at whitesassy@aol.com thank you
You might want to read this article: https://dna-explained.com/2015/03/31/finding-your-american-indian-tribe-using-dna/
My father was native American on his mother’s side
Possibly his Father’s. He’s deceased could I get a better report of his DNA from my son ?
No. Your son only has half as much of your father’s DNA as you do.
My father is a tribal member of the Salish & Kootenay tribes. Since birth he never claimed me, but claimed my other two brothers, who are also tribal members. I cant test father, but would a sibling DNA test be enough to become a tribal member, if he’s my father?
I grew up on the reservation so tribal or not I don’t care but I’ve been told he’ my father all my life but I need proof.
Yes, a test of you and your possibly sibling or siblings will confirm whether or not they are your siblings. As for tribal membership, every tribe has different requirements so that is entirely up to the individual tribe. I’d start with the tests and go from there.
Hello Robert,
This web page is amazing. Let me share my story with you.
I was 2 months old and left with clean clothes and food in a hotel room in Tegucigalpa Honduras. I was found the next day by a maid from the hotel. Somehow went from the hotel to an Orphanage. I was adopted out by a white family in 1974/1975 and came to the U.S.
I recently did my DNA Test though Ancestry.com
My results came back on 10/7 stating that I am 53% Native American.
I have also been linked to 74 total cousins. There is only 1 – 2nd cousin and a bunch of 4th -6th cousins. And I have reached out the 3 people with this same story hoping to find my real parents or any information they may have to provide me with some answers.
Either my mother or father is, I’m guessing 100% Native American.
Should I wait to find out from the family members to see if I can find more information?
Thank you,
You need to test at Family Tree DNA so that you can obtain your mitochondrial DNA haplogroup. I would also suggest that you take their Family Finder test as well. Many of the people in Honduras are quite admixed, so it could well be that both of your parents were admixed. Your mitochondrial haplogroup will at least tell you if your mother’s direct maternal line was Native.
This article was very informative. Thank you for the great lengths you went to centralize so much information. I do have one question…possibly two. Being a female, according to your diagrams it appears that I would not inherit my father’s Native American heritage. His mother was half Choctaw and his father was mostly Cherokee (not sure what “mostly” means, more than half is what I surmise anyway), my mother does not have any Native American blood at all. I am interested primarily for my children’s sake. We are not wanting to join a tribe (although we would at least like to connect with whoever we belong to), but wanting to have our family history solidified and possibly to have the neccessary documentation for scholarship and/or grant opportunities for them. So, my questions… Would it be worthwhile to test? And what test(s) would be most beneficial? I realize that scholarships and grants each have their own requirements as far as tribe affiliation and percent of heritage so at this time I guess I’m primarily interested in is a DNA test that will cover the most bases (relative to my goals) at the least amount of dollars spent.
Thanks again for the research you have done.
You don’t inherit your father’s Y DNA, but you do inherit at least part of whatever Native DNA he carries on his autosomal markers. Therefore, you would want to take the autosomal test. At Family Tree DNA, this is called the Family Finder test.
That is what I found. I have taken almost every test available at FTDNA. None of my Native American showed up in my Y dna results. I had a lot of hits on my family finder results.
You know that your Native heritage is not through your father’s direct paternal line now.
Exactly! We had always suspected my great-grandmother was Cherokee based on family folklore, but none of the locations or relatives seemed to match up so I discounted the stories except for that curious death certificate that identified her as “Negro.” I had uploaded my FTDNA X and Autosomal results to gedmatch, and while I was running the Whitener, Weidner, Wise families from a resulting match, I found the Golden, Morris, Sixkiller and Starr families that had been staring me in the face for several years in my FTDNA FF matches. Recently, a lady had included just one ancestor in her FF profile (no tree, no surnames, etc) and I was able to that one hint and resolve many of her brick walls and some mistakes. Of course, my R-P25 Mitchells continue ellude me.
Isn’t that the way it always is!!!
I’ve been told my whole life I had Cherokee. My father looks anything but Caucasian, and he never knew his father. My grandmother stated his biological father was half Cherokee, so I took it upon my self to test on AncestryDNA to confirm, I wanted some kind of proof. Everyone where I live says their always Cherokee without document or some kind off proof. It did come back saying I’m 6% Native American, but it really suck it doesn’t narrow down the tribe.