Allen County, Indiana Genealogy

1. America is a vast land of many cultures dating back thousands of years to the original inhabitants of the land. The history and heritage of Native Americans, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and Island communities are part of all national parks today. Throughout the year, and especially during November during Native American Heritage Month, the National Park Service and our partners celebrate together the rich traditions, languages, and contributions of Indigenous people. 

   As we celebrate Native American Heritage, take a moment, wherever you are, to listen to the wind and the stories it carries. The history played out on public lands, like Grand Canyon National Park, has been dramatic and difficult, but learning from our shared past, present, and future will bring this nation together. Quotes above and below the video are copied from Native American Heritage Month at the National Park Service.

2. November 3, 2022 post by the U.S. Census Bureau on Facebook:

   In 1990, President George H.W. Bush signed a joint resolution designating November as National American Indian Heritage Month.

   Also known as American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) Heritage Month, the commemoration offers Americans an opportunity to better understand the culture and history of the AIAN population. 

   Check out our #CensusHistory page to learn more:

   November 2021 U.S. Census Bureau History: American Indians and Alaska Natives

3. “Duck and Dive” dance Native American Heritage Month celebration at Purdue University

   Posted by Purdue University - Native American Educational and Cultural Center on Thursday, November 3, 2022

   Thursday, November 3, 2022 post by Purdue University - Native American Educational and Cultural Center on Facebook:

   “Duck and Dive” dance Native American Heritage Month celebration at Purdue University

4. November 6, 2022 post by the Allen County Public Library on Facebook.

   We are celebrating the achievements, stories, and cultural contributions of Native American and Indigenous people through the month of November as part of Native American Heritage Month! Checkout the book displays at our branches or browse through our recommended reads list, available at https://acpl.lib.in.us/images/Booklists/Indigenous_Voices_Sml2.pdf

5. November 7, 2022 post by the U.S. Census Bureau on Facebook:

   American Indian Day was first celebrated in 1916. Several proclamations have been issued since then to recognize what is now known as American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month.

   Visit our By the Numbers page to learn more about this November observance: American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

6. Native American Heritage Month https://nativeamericanheritagemonth.gov/ a collaborative project of the Library of Congress and the National Endowment for the Humanities, National Gallery of Art, National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution, United States Holocaust Memorial Museum and U.S. National Archives and Records Administration.
7. Native American Heritage Month, or as it is commonly refered to, American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month at National Congress of American Indians.
8. American Indian Records in the National Archives from as early as 1774 through the mid 1990s is part of the Native American Heritage section at the The National Archives.
9. Cartographic Records Of The Bureau Of Indian Affairs Compiled by Lauro E. Kelsay, 1977, at archives.gov.
10. Celebrating National Native American Heritage Month at United States Senate.
11. Native American History at the The National Archives.
12. U.S. Census Bureau History: American Indians and Alaska Natives.
13. U.S. Department of the Interior Indian Affairs

14. November 1, 2023 post by the US National Archives on Facebook:

    In November, we celebrate Native American Heritage Month, honoring Native Americans' accomplishments and contributions. Numerous records documenting the lives of Native Americans, dating from as early as 1774, are preserved in the National Archives. The records include those from Indian schools, census rolls, the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and every treaty the United States Government made with Native Americans. [Record Group 75 - Records of the Bureau of Indian Affairs]

    To learn more, visit our Native American History special topics page: Native American History.

    Image: Treaty between the United States and the Creek Indians signed at Indian Springs, 1803.

    https://catalog.archives.gov/id/121122216

    #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth

15. On July 20, 1964, Ida Ellen Stansbury Robinson wrote to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (U.S. Indian Affairs) seeking...

    Posted by US National Archives on Tuesday, June 11, 2024

    Tuesday, June 11, 2024 post by the US National Archives on Facebook:

    On July 20, 1964, Ida Ellen Stansbury Robinson wrote to the Bureau of Indian Affairs (U.S. Indian Affairs) seeking information about her family's Native American heritage. Her letter is one of many received by the BIA during the early 1960s, highlighting a widespread interest in tracing Native American ancestry.

    Due to the volume of requests, the BIA developed a decision tree to efficiently categorize and respond to these inquiries. Responses ranged from form letters with basic guidance to more detailed referrals to the National Archives or appropriate BIA field offices based on the requester's information. Although the BIA did not conduct genealogical research, its involvement in tribal enrollment made it a resource on Native American ancestry.

    The BIA used a systematic approach with standardized responses tailored to each request's details. For example, requests with insufficient information received general responses, while those with more details were referred to specific records or archives. The BIA's archival files continue to be valuable resources for those tracing their Native American heritage.

    Learn more in this Text Message blog post: “I Trust You Will Be Able to Assist Me”: Genealogy Researchers Contact the Bureau of Indian Affairs

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