For
November and #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth, we have compiled, and would like to share with you, some
great online resources for researching Native American history, culture, and genealogy.
Much of the
following was taken from Martha Kohl’s Educator listserv. If you are interested
in joining the listserv, you can find more information about it here: https://mhs.mt.gov/education/Forms/subscribeMHHElistserv
And,
check out the listserv itself to get some awesome resources
for teachers http://teachingmontanahistory.blogspot.com/
Did you know? Montana Tribes.org
has updated its activities and resources; and is now mobile
friendly.
Every year, the University of Montana’s School of Journalism publishes Native News, an annual look at issues facing Montana’s tribes. The 2018 edition addresses the topic of self-governance. One article visits Rocky Boy High School’s Helping Hands Program, while another article visits the Dakota language program at Fort Peck Community College.
Every year, the University of Montana’s School of Journalism publishes Native News, an annual look at issues facing Montana’s tribes. The 2018 edition addresses the topic of self-governance. One article visits Rocky Boy High School’s Helping Hands Program, while another article visits the Dakota language program at Fort Peck Community College.
Native Land is a site that maps indigenous territories in the U.S. and Canada. It is, as its creator explains, "a work in progress." There are some things that may not ring true for Montana tribes (for example, the Salish and Kootenai don't have distinct territories on the map.) But, it is a useful tool for sparking discussion and worth checking out. Type in the name of your town and see what comes up.
And, we
can always use more online maps: Tribal Nations Maps .
Below are
a few new resources for learning and teaching more specifically about
the Métis.
The first is The Métis of British Columbia: Culture, History, and the Contemporary Community. It's an online version of a DVD project created to help disseminate information on Métis history and culture that includes many short videos. There are two main sections: Culture, History, and Dance, and Music and Dance. Although it is from Canada, the material is relevant to Montana as well.
Finally, from The Gabriel Dumont Institute's "Virtual Museum of Métis History and Culture." This site has so much material that it is a bit daunting. But, all of it is excellent information.
Native American Genealogy Online
Resources:
· Access Genealogy - Native American is a great portal
to most other websites for Native American Genealogy and includes:
o
Land
Patent information for:
§ The Blackfeet Tribe - only 22
listings; however, the Blackfeet tribe has their own database of individuals
(see below)
o
Indian
Census Rolls, 1885-1940 for:
§ All tribes
1885-1940, digitized, but not keyword searchable
o
Indian Schools,
Seminaries, and Missions – NARA has links to these, also, but this looks
easier to navigate and includes the Fort Shaw Indian School 1910 Census.
·
Blackfeet
Genealogy
– launched in 2006, this is a great source for Blackfeet individual vital data.
·
Family Search -
Native American sources – this is a great portal for most of the other links
here. Search by record type and by tribe.
o
BIA Schools by
state
includes Fort Shaw Indian Boarding School in Montana and Carlisle Indian School in Pennsylvania
