Expert: Don Caldwell - 3/14/2009

Question
QUESTION: My fraternal great-grand mother was declared to be Cherokee.
I only have her first name, not her maiden (family) name. She originated from NC shortly before the Trail of Tears. All my research indicates this claim to be true. Question:
What DNA test do you suggest that would best verify this fact?  Is there a Cherokee data base to compare my DNA to? My motivation is the satisfaction of knowing.  Thank you.

ANSWER: Thank you for your question. First let me say that there is presently no DNA test that can say if you Cherokee. Although there are many such claims by DNA testing labs, it is not true. There is a database being developed by the Cherokee Heritage Documentation Center as sort of a DNA reference point, but it is a long term project.

Having said that, let me direct you to the only free DNA test I know of which is by Sorenson Labs. They are developing the worlds largest genealogical database:

http://www.smgf.org/pages/request_kit.jspx

You mention that your gggrandmother was "declared" to be Cherokee. Do you mean that she was enrolled in a tribe, or that she was listed this way on a government roll?

If you have not already, you should search for your gggrandfather's surname on the 1924 Baker roll. Then look at the results for your gggrandmother's first name.
You can search all the rolls at cherokeeregistry.com. You should also use their search engine (upper right hand corner) to search the site for information on your gggrandfather. It may connect you to information others have provided on the same family.

If you can the answers I have asked above, I will try to provide more information.

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: My relative reported to be Cherokee is my ggrandmother. I cannot find her surname.  She live in the time and region when they feared for their lives, took on Christian names, and left few records.  QUESTION: Is it possible for my male DNA to indicate Native American -- even small traces?  I am not looking for a free test; however, I appreciate the source given.  Thank you. I will follow up. Yes, I have looked at many govt rolls but without her surname it is impossible.  Her son, my grandfather, looked very much Indian. Obviously, I believed his statement.  For me, it is a very important thing just to know that I have even a small amount of this noble bloodline.  DNA seemed to be my last resort. Again, thank you very much.

Answer
You asked "Is it possible for my male DNA to indicate Native American -- even small traces?" The answer is yes. Let me explain. A paternal line Native American test or Common Male Ancestor (Y-chromosome for males only) examines DNA from the paternal line (i.e., the Y-chromosome comes from the participant's Father's, Father's, Father, etc.) for genetic markers unique to Native Americans. Three major haplogroups account for 96% of Native American male Y chromosomes. The three haplogroups are called Haplogroup Q, C and R. Haplogroups Q and C represent early Native American founding male lineages. Haplogroup R lineages, present in Native Americans, are believed by scientists to most likely have come from recent admixture with Europeans.

Maternal Line Native American Test or Common Female Ancestor (mtDNA for males or females) examines DNA from the maternal line (i.e., the mtDNA comes from the participant's Mother's, Mother's, Mother, etc.) for genetic markers unique to Native Americans. Nearly all Native Americans belong to one of five mtDNA haplogroups: A, B, C, D or X which are broadly distributed throughout the Americas.

A new study indicates that 95% of Native Americans can be traced to six women. These “founding mothers” are believed to have lived between about 18,000 and 21,000 years ago, in Beringia, a now-submerged land bridge that once connected Asia and North America. The six founding mothers belong to sub-haplogroups A2, B2, C1b, C1c, C1d and D1. The other 5% of Native Americans belong to sub-haplogroups X2a, D2, D3, C4 and D4h3.

If you are having problems locating information about your Cherokee ancestors, begin your search with cherokeeregistry.org. You will save a lot of time and frustration.