Navajo Nation: Difference between revisions

Guide to '''Navajo Indian family history, and genealogy''' census, school, and agencies and their records. The Navajo Nation is 27,000 square miles and the nation has over 320,000 tribal citizens living in 110 chapters or communities.

The Navajo (Naabeeho, Navaho, and other variants) are the largest [http://www.bia.gov/idc/groups/xofa/documents/document/idc012038.pdf federally recognized tribes] in the United States, or known among kinsmen as Dine'. The Navajo Nation is an independent government body, which manages the Navajo Indian reservation.  

*'''1858:''' Manuelito, an Navajo leader, discovered his livestock had be shot by U.S. Soldiers. He confronted the Major at Fort Defiance, claiming the land and water. Soldiers from Fort Defiance, with Zuni mercenaries, burned Manuelito's village and fields.  

*'''1864-1866:''' Relocated with Apache to [[Indians of New Mexico|New Mexico]], at Bosque Redondo near [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fort_Sumner Fort Sumner], about 200 Navajos died on the 300 mile trek. - "[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Walk_of_the_Navajo The Long Walk]". It is estimated 2,000 died while at Bosque Redondo

*'''1882: '''December 16, President Chester Arther removed some 4,000 square miles of land in northern Arizona from the public domain and made it a reservation for the Maquii (Hopi) Indians. This order formed the legal basis of the present day Navajo-Hopi land conflict.  

*'''1907-1922''': Navajo Reservation was expanded in Utah onto the Paiute Indians' homeland.  

*'''1941-9145:''' All American Indian men were required to register for the draft. A total of 24,521 American Indian men served in the U.S. armed services during World War II.  

Just like any other civilization, precautionary steps were taken to limit intermarriages among immediate family members. The Navajo established family clans, with the maternal line being the predominate line. When introducing one self, a Navajo will provide their parent's clan and typically their maternal grandfather and paternal grandfather's clan, establishing their place in the world. Knowing one's clans is just as important as knowing the names of past ancestors and goes hand-in-hand with genealogical research. For a more detailed list of clans, a short history and a brief introduction, [http://www.lapahie.com/Dine_Clans.cfm click here, clans].  

When dealing with Native American records, you will come into contact with a number of governmental offices that have dealt with Native American tribes. The three main level of offices included are, Indian agents, [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/Superintendencies_of_Indian_Affairs Superintendents], and Commissioner of Indian Affairs. The following is a very brief explanation of what these offices entailed.  

The Navajo Nation's reservation boundaries has been changing since the original reservation boundaries were established in 1868. At the same time, governmental guardianship over these lands has changed. Currently, the Navajo Nation is divided into five agencies ([[Chinle Indian Agency (Arizona)|Chinle Agency]], [[Eastern Navajo Indian Agency (Arizona)|Eastern Navajo Agency]] (AZ) and [[Eastern Navajo Indian Agency (New Mexico)|Eastern Navajo Agency]] (NM), [[Western Navajo Indian Agency (Arizona)|Western Navajo Agency]], [[Fort Defiance Indian Agency|Fort Defiance Agency]], and [[Shiprock Indian Agency (New Mexico)|Shiprock Agency]]) governing a specific geographical area, with the seat of government located in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Window_Rock,_Arizona Window Rock, Arizona]. Each of these agencies are further divided into smaller political units called [http://www.navajo-nsn.gov/chapters.htm Chapters], the number of Chapters have fluctuated over the years, but there are roughly 110 Chapters. Typically, Chapters do not carry documents containing family history information, and most will refer you to the Navajo Nation offices. In addition to this, many of the documents held at the agencies have also been transferred to National and Regional archives throughout the United States.

Like most civilizations throughout the world, geography plays a crucial role in Navajo life, mythology, religion, and history. In more modern times, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Reservation reservation] boundaries have been established by the United States of America on behalf of the Navajo Indians and over time those boundaries have changed. Learning local history can also help with understanding family history. Current boundaries for the Navajo Reservation is about 24,078,127 square miles, making it the largest Indian reservation in the United States. It covers parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah. There are also three separate entities which are also under Navajo jurisdiction: the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ramah_Navajo_Indian_Reservation Ramah Navajo Indian Reservation], the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alamo_Navajo_Indian_Reservation Alamo Navajo Indian Reservation], and the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tohajiilee_Indian_Reservation Tohajiilee Indian Reservation].<br><br>Tribal lands are trust lands and as a result there are no private land owners, and all Tribal Trust land is owned in common and administered by the Nation's government. There are also BIA Indian Allotment lands which are privately owned by the heirs and generations of the original BIA [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/American_Indian_Allotment_Records Indian Allotee] to whom it was issued. Tribal Trust lands are leased to both customary land users (may include homesites, grazing, and other uses) and organizations (may include BIA and other federal agencies, churches, and other religious organizations, as well as private or commercial businesses).

As stated previously, the superintendent of Indian affairs oversaw Indian agents. As for the Navajo Indians, at times superintendents were at odds as to whom held authority over areas occupied by the Navajos. Neighboring superintendents also assisted governing superintendents over the Navajos. Over time territorial boundaries also shifted and changed. The New Mexico and Arizona Superintendency are the main record holders for Navajo information.

The [http://www.bia.gov/ Bureau of Indian Affairs] is commonly known as the BIA, and is part of the U.S. Department of Interior since they hold in trust American Indian lands. The BIA also serves 566 [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federally_recognized_tribes federally recognized tribes] in the United States. For those that are searching BIA records, three main National Archives and Record Administrations are used:  

The BIA also has listed a publication by the Office of Public Affairs-Indian Affairs called, [http://www.bia.gov/cs/groups/public/documents/text/idc-002619.pdf "A Guide to Tracing American Indian &amp; Alaska Native Ancestry"] which can help guide your research.

There are two types of census records available for people searching American Indian records. The first is the [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/United_States_Census U.S. decennial census records] and [https://familysearch.org/wiki/en/American_Indian_Census_Rolls Indian Census Rolls], both have identical information and some differences. Indian Census records were usually taken each year by agents or superintendents in charge of Indian reservations, then sent to the Commissioner of Indian Affairs, as required by an act of July 4, 1884. By 1940, many areas covered under the Indian Census Rolls were soon incorporated into U.S. decennial census records.

As the result of a number of issues surrounding land, the federal government and especially with the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indian_Reorganization_Act Indian Reorganization Act of 1934] (a.k.a Wheeler-Howard Act) which encouraged Natives to determining their membership and enrollment. The question set before Natives was, "Who is an Indian?" To help move the issue along, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blood_quantum_laws#Tribes_requiring_1.2F4_degree_blood_quantum_for_membership Blood Quantum] was introduced as a requirement for tribal membership, allowing tribes to select the degree of ancestry for an individual to be considered part of a specific tribe. As for the Navajos, 1/4 degree of blood for membership was selected.

The [http://www.archives.gov/research/census/native-americans/1885-1940.html National Archives Microfilm Publication M595] has copies of the the Indian Census Rolls, containing about 692 rolls dealing with a large number of tribes in the United States. It is during this time that Indian Census Roll takers were given instructions to include an individual's Indian and English name. By 1902 instruction was given that families should be given the same surname and that they should translate Indian names into English if they were too difficult to pronounce or remember. If names were too "foolish, cumbersome or uncouth translations which would handicap a self-respecting person should not be tolerated," or derogatory nicknames were dropped and changed.

Online verses Microfilm. Online Indian Census Rolls can be found at [http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1059 Ancestry.com] (a pay site), this has all the benefits of searching records from the comfort of home. At this point in time they only have a few Indian Census Rolls available for Navajo records. [http://www.accessgenealogy.com/native/free-us-indian-census-rolls.htm Accessgenealogy.com] does provide free access to Navajo Indian census rolls on-line.  Searching microfilm at Family History Libraries (free) can be more time consuming, but can provide more information which is left out by on-line sites. On-line sites only include the names of individuals and leave out a wealth of information at the beginning of the census rolls; which includes special instructions and procedures by the census taker and even census maps.  

====== Hopi and Navajo Indians ======

The United States Federal Population Census records in regards to Navajo Indians varies by area. Since about 1885 until 1930, Natives were required to be placed on Indian Census Rolls, by 1940 they were incorporated into U.S. federal population census records. In some areas Navajos were placed on U.S. federal population census records as early as 1900, and are usually limited to Natives living in or around border towns. As most know, U.S. federal population census records are recorded every ten years and at times can also include Indian Census Numbers and can be helpful in tracking down ancestors.

By the late 1800's, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (aka the Mormons) began moving into and settling southern Utah, Arizona and western New Mexico. The Navajos called these people ''Gaamalii'' (meaning: the fat ones that are coming). Mission records, missionaries and settlers wrote a number of journals and diaries that can include Navajo family names. Baptismal records and Church membership records are harder to come by and are usually limited to Church members only. But, baptismal and Church membership records in earlier times are very limited as to the fact that when Navajos were incorporated into the Church, the Church did not have plans of establishing or maintaining religious contact with the Navajos unless there was a dire need.

*[https://familysearch.org/locations/saltlakecity-library Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints: Family History Library]