Cherokee Genealogist Writes Blistering Criticism of Elizabeth Warren


May 17th, 2012

The beauty of new media is that there are lots of voices out there with all sorts of expertise in things the average person probably doesn’t know much about. We see that again today when blogger Twila Barnes, whose blog is subtitled “A little Cherokee history and genealogy mixed in with a whole lot of truth,” wrote an open letter to Elizabeth Warren:

Ms. Warren, some of us have independently done our own research and we know you have no documentation supporting your claim of Cherokee ancestry.* We wonder why you believe you have the right to claim Cherokee ancestry and to call yourself a Native American when you have no evidence to support your claim. While you cling to a family story and the inaccurate report that ONE document was found that supports your claim, we real Cherokees understand that those things mean nothing. You see, we Cherokees have lots and lots and lots of documentation supporting our claims of our ancestry. Our Cherokee ancestors are found on every roll of the Cherokee Nation (30+ rolls!) dating back to before the removal and in all sorts of other documentation, including but not limited to claims against the US government for lost property; the Moravian missionary records; ration lists before and after the forced removal, etc…yet your ancestors are found in NONE of those records…

You have claimed something you had no right to claim — our history and our heritage and our identity. Those things belong to us, and us alone. These are not things we choose to embrace when they benefit us and then cast aside when we no longer need them, but that is what you seem to have done by “checking a box” for several years and then no longer “checking” it more recently, when apparently you no longer needed it.

Ms. Barnes concludes by promising that “experienced researchers in Cherokee genealogy” have been investigating Warren’s genealogy and will be publishing their results soon.

Hat tip to William Jacobson at Legal Insurrection, who spoke to Twila, and has more on her story here.

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Genealogy and family history resources at your fingertips


May 17th, 2012

Check out a new family history resource or class this week.

From beginners to seasoned professionals, there’s a resource here for everyone wanting to trace their roots. 

HOW TO START YOUR FAMILY HISTORY
For free online advice, click here

While you’re there, click the Search Records tab and you’ll gain access to finding millions of records from over 100 countries as well as useful guides and tips to help you find your ancestors.

FAMILY HISTORY LESSONS

LDS Family History Centers offer free personal help and access to information and resources. (there are over 4,600 local centers worldwide!).   To Find an LDS Family History Center near you click here. 

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The Mesa Regional Family History Center is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and is open to the general public.  It is located at 41 South Hobson, Mesa, AZ, 85204

Family History Center Class Schedule
These FREE classes are held in the upstairs classroom at the Family History Center.  Public Welcome.
For more information CLICK HERE.  See Family History Classes.

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These FREE classes are held across the street from the Family History Center.  The Family History Training Center is at 464 E 1st Avenue, Mesa, Arizona.  Public Welcome
For more information CLICK HERE.  See hands on workshops.

Visit their website at  http://www.mesarfhc.org/ or call 480-964-1200 for further information.

Volunteer Opportunities
 
If you are interested in performing volunteer work with the Genealogy Collection  or other collections, please give them a call!  If you are people-friendly, have some free time and enjoy genealogy, you may want to consider volunteering with them.  Their hours are 8 to 5 Monday through Friday, and they are located about a mile west of downtown Phoenix in Arizona’s Capitol. 

Volunteers shelve books, provide clerical support, assist patrons with beginning level genealogy and assist staff with special projects.

For more information about becoming a volunteer, call them at (602) 926-3938.

MORE RESOURCES- Learn from the comfort of home.

Cyndi’s List http://www.cyndislist.com/ contains hundreds of thousands of links to family history and genealogy sites on the Internet. 

Roots Television  Browse the videos about family history research.  http://www.rootstelevision.com/program_guide.php

Genealogy Gems Podcast  http://www.genealogygemspodcast.com/  Your Family History Show
Search the archives for tips and genealogy gems.

FamilySearch Videos – Family History and Genealogy topics   http://www.youtube.com/familysearch

GeneaWebinars– http://www.geneawebinars.com News about upcoming genealogy webinars (online seminars) offered throughout the online genealogy community.  Many are free.  Simply register.

GeneaBloggers- See what others are doing online with genealogy and family history. You’ll find over 1,800 blogs from around the world listed which emphasize different aspects of family history and genealogy.  Perhaps you’ll find information that’s just perfect for your needs.  Check out the blog roll. www.GeneaBloggers.com

Check out GeneaBloggers Radio, the live Friday night Internet radio show hosted by Thomas MacEntee, founder of  www.GeneaBloggers.com  Enjoy the wide variety of topics, both live and “on demand” episodes (formerly recorded) that can help you in your genealogy quest.  http://www.blogtalkradio.com/geneabloggers
 

Genealogy News

GeneaPress– http://www.geneapress.com  a repository of press releases where you can link to the latest news about the genealogy industry.

Dick Eastman’s Online Genealogy Newsletter http://blog.eogn.com/ Straight talk about what’s happening in the genealogy community.

Keep your genealogy knowledge growing.  Choose one item from the classes or resources listed above and explore it this week.

GENEALOGICAL SOCIETIES AND GROUPS

To locate genealogical societies and groups in the Phoenix Metropolitan area, click on this link
http://www.azgab.org/societies.htm   Find out their meeting schedules and what they have to offer.  Join in, and strengthen your family tree in this generation.

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Note: Examiner Carolyn Murphy resides in Mesa, AZ.  
Feel free to subscribe above or comment below.  Also visit:
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The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual


May 15th, 2012

The BCG Genealogical Standards Manual

Family historians depend upon thousands of people unknown to them. They exchange research with others; copy information from books and databases; and write libraries, societies, and government offices. At times they even hire professionals to do legwork in distant areas and trust strangers to solve important problems. But how can a researcher be assured that he or she is producing or receiving reliable results? This official manual from the Board of Certification for Genealogists provides a stan

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In the Blood (A genealogical crime mystery)

Family history was never supposed to be like this... When American genealogist, Jefferson Tayte, accepted his latest assignment, he had no idea it might kill him. But while murder was never part of the curriculum, he is kidding himself if he thinks he can walk away from this one. Driven by the all-consuming irony of being a genealogist who doesn't know who his own parents are, Tayte soon finds that the assignment shares a stark similarity to his own struggle. Someone has gone to grea

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Find More Genealogical Products

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Autosomal DNA Testing – Can it Really Predict Our Ancestors? – About


May 15th, 2012

One of the coolest genetic tools in the genealogist’s toolbox (especially for those of us of the femalepersuasion without Y-DNA) is the relatively new autosomal DNA test. This month Ancestry.com entered the market, joining 23andme.com and FamilyTreeDNA, with their own autosomal DNA test known as AncestryDNA. In the interest of full disclosure, I was one of the ones lucky enough to receive my results during the beta period as Ancestry.com offered me a free test for review, but I was more excited about the quicker results than the free test. I would have happily paid for the test, and already have my name on the waiting list to order a few more for some relatives in the hopes of possibly solving a few genealogical mysteries. Other autosomal tests which I have had done include 23andme.com’s Relative Finder ($299, with no subscription required) and FamilyTreeDNA’s Family Finder ($289, no subscription required).

Ancestry.com’s new AncestryDNA test is currently being offered for an introductory rate of $99, but is available only for Ancestry.com subscribers. This is a great rate, so if you are interested in pursuing autosomal DNA testing I would highly recommend taking advantage of it. Their genetic database isn’t yet nearly the size of FamilyTree DNA, but they have a huge potential list of participants in their own current customer database of 1.87 million subscribers — and I think will be especially good at attracting those with a more casual interest in genetic testing who might not otherwise seek out such a service. They also link results directly to Ancestry Member Trees (when available), which can really help to narrow the focus for potential ancestral matches.

On the downside, Read the rest of this entry »

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Surprise: Genealogist Who “Confirmed” Warren’s 1/32 Cherokee Heritage Admits Error – Town Hall


May 15th, 2012

Indian Country Today Media Network.com
Surprise: Genealogist Who "Confirmed" Warren's 1/32 Cherokee Heritage Admits Error
Town Hall
The "genealogist" who offered Elizabeth Warren's only strand of proof that she has any Native American blood in her lineage turns out to be an amateur who now admits the "evidence" she thought she'd collected doesn't actually exist: Lynda Smith, …
Elizabeth Warren's Genealogical ChallengeIndian Country Today Media Network.com


Amateur Genealogist Who Backed '1/32 Cherokee' Warren Now Admits MistakeBig Hollywood
Brown and Warren honing messagesBoston.com
Power Line (blog) -Daily Caller
all 105 news articles »

genealogical – Google News

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