Articles & FAQs

Genealogy Vs. Genetics
by Christina Berry

"How can I get my blood tested to prove that I am a Cherokee?"

This is one of the most commonly asked questions on this site. Unfortunately, the simple answer to this question is, "You can't." It's true that there is a "Native American" genetic markers which can be found using both the Mitochondrial and Y-chromosome testing methods, but this is only indicates if a person is possibly Native American, it can not go so far as to indicate which tribe a person may descend from.

Despite this small hitch, DNA testing has quite a lot to offer families seeking their origins. Organizations like Brigham Young University and Ancestry.com are working to link individuals together based on genetic links. Perhaps some day we will all be linked together in one giant genetic tree. When that day comes it might be possible to use DNA to pinpoint our actual ancestors and be extremely specific regarding tribal affiliation. Today, however, genetic genealogy is in its infancy.

Also, none of the federally recognized Cherokee tribes accept DNA evidence as proof for enrollment. So, genetics and genealogy will continue to work together to understand our family histories.

Genetic Testing
Ancestry.com DNA Testing - Ancestry now offers DNA testing to link distant you to cousins and give you a full picture of your genetic history.

Genealogy Research
Excerpts from this article appear in the All Things Cherokee Customized Cherokee Rolls Report, which also includes detailed Cherokee enrollment information, as well as a custom surname search of 15 Cherokee rolls, including the Dawes and Baker Rolls.