“Indian Makes Attempt to Kill”. That’s the newspaper article heading I mentioned a few years back in the Facebook group, “Indian Territory and Oklahoma History” in order to share about my Uncle Cicero Coley shooting through the window of his white guardian’s house in an attempt to kill him for stealing his land allotments.
I had come to what I thought was the end of my years of research about my Coley family members and I hoped that perhaps this last-ditch attempt might spur some interest. Wouldn’t you know, it worked! A distant cousin of mine reached out to me and introduced me to another cousin, uncovering some missing pieces to my family story puzzle.
(I’m still looking for more Coley family members so if you know of any Choctaw Coleys, please reach out to me!)
Tracing lineage and finding the history and stories of our American Indian ancestors is quite the challenge. But today my guest is here to bring you (and me) some hope. Meet my guest, Gwen Takes Horse, a Genealogist at Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma who’s here to help us understand how to trace our Native roots!
The information Gwen shares is not just for Choctaws – it can apply to several other tribes. And she also has some good tips for us in general that can apply to anyone.
Take a listen, y’all and feel free to share your family stories with us if you’d like – we love to hear them!
If you’re Choctaw, the Choctaw Nation Genealogy Department can be reached by emailing genealogy@choctawnation.com or 800-522-6170 (ask for the Genealogy Department).
Check out the group I mention in the episode: Indian Territory and Early Oklahoma History, 1800 - 1957: https://www.facebook.com/groups/687213838053719
Tracing your Native American roots:
National Indian Law Library: https://narf.org/nill/resources/roots.html
Ancestry.com Research: https://support.ancestry.com/s/article/Researching-Native-American-Ancestors
Dawes rolls: https://www.okhistory.org/research/dawes
American Indian Records & Resources: https://www.okhistory.org/research/americanindians
Ancestry: https://www.ancestry.com/
Newspapers: https://www.newspapers.com/
Fold3: https://www.fold3.com/?group=1
Family Tree: https://www.familytree.com/
Native ChocTalk Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/nativechoctalkpodcast
All Podcast Episodes: https://nativechoctalk.com/podcasts/
S2 E21, From Red Dirt to Mechanical Engineer: Phil Cross, Kadohadacho (Caddo); Guest Appearance by Lowell Edmonds, Caddo
S2, E20 - The Voice of the Chahta Taloa (Choctaw Song): Sarah De Herrera, Okla Chahta Clan of California
S2, E19: Robert Baker on Choctaws in the War of 1812, the Significance of Armstrong Academy in Bokchito, & More!
S2, E18, P2: A Fascinating New Look at Our Choctaw History by the Decade: Megan Baker
S2, E18, P1: A Fascinating New Look at Our Choctaw History by the Decade: Megan Baker (Choctaw)
S2, E17: The History of Riverside Indian School, Wares Chapel, O Ho Mah, Hog Creek & a Love of Sonic Drinks
S2, E16: Coach James Nells (Navajo) on Growing Up On the Reservation & the Sport That Turned His Life Around
S2, E14: The Mystery of the Train Ride to Indian Territory, Jennifer Story
S2, E15: The Edwards Store, The Treaty of Dancing Rabbit Creek & A Woman Named Sukky: Chrissy Gray Dickmeyer, Choctaw
S2, E13: Choctaws & The Making of Hochatown: Meet Shauna Williams, Choctaw
S2, E12: The Strength of the American Indian Woman: Inspiration for Women’s History Month, Rachael Youngman, Native ChocTalk Podcaster
S2, E11: When Past Meets Present: Jake Tiger (Seminole) on Living & Preserving the Traditional Seminole Way of Life
S2, E10: Shell Shaker: A Chickasaw Opera, Jerod Impichchaachaaha Tate, Chickasaw Composer
S2, E9: ’Nothing About Us Without Us’: Nancy Tecumseh Mason (Choctaw) Empowering Our Native Youth
S2, E8, Christianity and Spirituality in the Native American Community: Monroe Tsatoke, Kiowa Pastor
S2, E7, P2: Jim Gray, Former Chief of the 𐓁𐓣 𐓂𐓤𐓘𐓯𐓤𐓘͘ (Osage) Nation, on His Family & The Reign of Terror
S2, E7, P1: Jim Gray, Former Chief of the 𐓁𐓣 𐓂𐓤𐓘𐓯𐓤𐓘͘ (Osage) Nation, on His Family & The Reign of Terror
S2, E6: His School Counselor Labelled Him, ‘Not college material’. Dr. Wayne Johnson, Muscogee
S2, E5, P2: Stickball, Little Brother of War: Mississippi Choctaws, Mark Williams & Chalena Marcus Billy
S2, E5, P1: Stickball, Little Brother Of War, Brenner Billy, Choctaw
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