How can I trace my Native American lineage?
A DNA test can indeed tell you if you have Native American ancestry. It cannot under any circumstances tell you a percentage, what they can tell you is you have a certain percentage of DNA markers in common with samples of Native American DNA they have in their database… It cannot tell you which “tribe” your ancestors may have been. I have more information about DNA testing on my website at: http://www.coolrogue.net/genealogy/dnate…
Tracing your presumed American Indian heritage starts with basic genealogical practices of tracing yourself to your parents to their parents to their parents and so on until you come to the ‘original’ American Indian in your family tree. That person would have to have been on the rolls of the tribe from which they descended for your heritage to be confirmed. Blood/DNA tests can only show you if you have markers similar to that of known American Indians. It cannot tell you which tribe you descend from. Neither the federal government or tribal nations accept blood/DNA tests for recognition.
