Category Archives: History

Ancestor of Native Americans in Asia was 30% “Western Eurasian”

Posted on October 25, 2013 by Roberta Estes

The complete genome has recently been sequenced from 4 year old Russian boy who died 24,000 years ago near Lake Baikal in a location called Mal’ta, the area in Asia believed to be the origin of the Native Americans based … Continue reading →

Posted in Anthropology, Archaic Indians, Asia, History, Lake Baikal | Leave a comment

Modern Faces and Ancient Migrations

Posted on October 16, 2013 by Roberta Estes

Our friends at Abroad in the Yard wrote an interesting article back in December 2011 about Modern Faces and Ancient Migrations. As you’re probably aware, the migration of people, their ethnicity and how they came to be where they are … Continue reading →

Posted in Aboriginal, Alaska Natives, Anthropology, Archaic Indians, Australia, DNA, History, Mexico, Migration, Navajo, Origins, South America | 3 Comments

Wounded Knee

Posted on October 6, 2013 by Roberta Estes

‎123 years ago, on December 28,1890, Chief Spotted Elk was deathly sick with pneumonia.. His band of Lakota set off in the snow from Cheyenne River to seek shelter with Red Cloud at Pine Ridge reservation. Big Foot’s band was … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Lakota | 5 Comments

Cut Your Hair – or Else

Posted on September 18, 2013 by Roberta Estes

It was 1902.  The government was unhappy that Indians were acting like, well, Indians, with their own customs and ways of life.  The government wanted to make the Indians white, or what they called “civilized,” so they would stop causing trouble … Continue reading →

Posted in Bureau of Indian Affairs, History | 5 Comments

Ancient DNA Analysis From Canada

Posted on July 4, 2013 by Roberta Estes

Recently a new academic paper focused on Native American ancestry hit the news.  Ripan Malhi’s molecular anthropology and ancient DNA lab at the University of Illinois, shown above, in Urbana, Illinois has successfully extracted DNA from remains of individuals whose bones … Continue reading →

Posted in Alaska Natives, Anthropology, Archaeology, Canada, DNA, Haida, History, Nisga'a, Tsimshian | 1 Comment

Chief Dan George Laments Canada’s 100th Birthday

Posted on July 2, 2013 by Roberta Estes

Chief Dan George (1899-1981) was an Indian Chief, an activist, an actor and a poet.  His best-known written work was “My Heart Soars.”  In this YouTube video, the poem is read by his son, Chief Leonard George. Former Chief of … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Salish | Leave a comment

Indians and the Census 1790-2010

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Roberta Estes

Census enumerators had a big influence on our genealogy records.  These people we don’t know decided who was of what race and recorded the family as such.  Most of the time, those records were sacrosanct.  I only know of one … Continue reading →

Posted in Census, History | 12 Comments

Are the First Depictions of Native Americans in the Vatican?

Posted on May 11, 2013 by Roberta Estes

Christopher Columbus made landfall in 1492 – we all know that – and “discovered” the North American continent.  His voyage was financed by Ferninand and Isabella, the Spanish King and Queen.  He returned in March of 1493 and turned over … Continue reading →

Posted in Art, Christopher Columbus, History | Leave a comment

1887 Croatan Indian Petition Signers

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Roberta Estes

In 1887, the Croatan Indians, now the Lumbee, petitioned the state legislature to establish a normal school to train Indian teachers for the county’s tribal schools. With state permission, they raised the requisite funds, along with some state assistance, which … Continue reading →

Posted in Croatan (Later Lumbee), Education, History, Lumbee, North Carolina | 2 Comments

Taint of Indian Blood

Posted on March 9, 2013 by Roberta Estes

State v. Harris Melton & Ann Byrd, 44 NC 49 (1852). An indictment for fornication in Stanly Superior Court. The defendants pleaded not guilty and offered evidence of their marriage. “The controversy was concerning the color of the male defendant … Continue reading →

Posted in History, Laws | 1 Comment