EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is excerpted from The Source: A Guidebook of American Genealogy edited by Loretto D. Szucs and Sandra H. Luebking, Chapter 14: "Tracking Native American Family History," by Curt B. Witcher and George J. Nixon.

Native American genealogical research is among the most challenging and rewarding of historical research endeavors. Interest in the life patterns, religions, migration and settlement patterns—indeed, in the entire culture of these earliest inhabitants of the North American continent-remains high. There are numerous fundamental differences between the Native American and the European American cultures, and it is these differences that present the greatest challenge to the genealogist.

In beginning Native American genealogical research, it is important to employ a fundamentally sound research methodology—the same methodology that would be used in compiling any family history. Initially, family sources should be consulted for information about previous generations. These sources include all living relatives, family papers and scrapbooks, daybooks, photograph albums, and diaries (see chapter 1, "The Foundations of Family History Research" in The Source. Considering the very strong oral tradition among Native American peoples, special attention should be given to conducting thorough interviews of all relatives.

Sound research methodology mandates that one research from the present into the past, from more recent times to more distant times, building a solid case based on primary and excellent secondary sources. The temptation to begin with the records of a particular tribe and prove forward to a more contemporary ancestor should be avoided. Not only is proving forward more difficult, it does not afford one the opportunity to investigate the widest range of records. Further, it tempts one to make assumptions that are clearly not based on the preponderance of evidence.

Maintaining extensive and accurate records is essential for any genealogical endeavor, but especially so for Native American research. All places, dates, and other data associated with a potential ancestor should be recorded with appropriate documentation even if their relevance is unknown or unclear at the time. No piece of data about a potential ancestor is inconsequential. Adhering to a defined series of research strategies is the most productive way to engage in Native American genealogical research. The researcher must be willing to employ research strategies in a sequence which gathers useful general material first, tribe-specific data second, and, finally, individual (person-specific) data and records. A successful research strategy could be outlined in a manner similar to the following:

1. Thoroughly investigate the areas where ancestral research is being considered for the identities, histories, and cultural attributes of the native peoples.

2. Employ a carefully constructed and consistently applied methodology for locating the greatest number of research documents and data on the tribe of the potential ancestor.

3. Work through all of the materials relating to a particular tribe or nation to obtain the fullest understanding of its peoples and the most complete individual-specific group of records.