DNA ethnicity results can be exciting, confusing, and sometimes unexpected. Many people open their results expecting to see only known family origins, only to find small percentages from regions they have never heard of. These surprising DNA segments can reflect distant ancestry, population overlap, or limitations in how testing companies interpret genetic data. Understanding how DNA segments are inherited and analyzed helps turn unexpected results into meaningful clues. In some cases, these … [Read more...]
Native American Heritage Month: The Power of Words
Keeping Native Traditions and Values Alive Through Storytelling Growing up in Washington State, far from the lands of my Cherokee ancestors, I first came to know their stories through my grandfather. He shared memories of our family in Oklahoma and legends filled with wonder, including claims of descent from Sequoyah, the creator of the Cherokee syllabary. These stories sparked my imagination and inspired a lifelong quest to understand our roots. As a genealogical researcher today, I’m still … [Read more...]
The Acadian Deportation: Tips for tracing ancestors forcibly removed from New France
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s epic poem “Evangeline, A Tale of Acadie” tells the tragic story of young lovers ripped apart following the Acadian deportation. Although the characters, Evangeline and Gabriel, are fictional, the events that frame their drama occurred and mark an unfortunate period in New France’s history. The event, known as “Le Grand Dérangement,” involved the forced removal of between 10,000-12,000 Acadians from their land at gunpoint between 1755-1763 by British soldiers. Who … [Read more...]
How Can You Trace Cherokee Ancestry? 5 Questions Expert Genealogists Answer Most Often
Many family historians wonder whether stories of Cherokee heritage in their family are true. It’s one of the most common questions we hear from prospective clients. While discovering a connection to the Cherokee people can be deeply meaningful, proving that connection often involves navigating historical records, tribal rolls, migrations, and family stories that have been passed down for generations. To help you get started, our genealogists answer five of the most frequently asked questions … [Read more...]