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Amerindian Heritage
Research A Point of View For people of Amerindian family lines, the surnames are not significant
AT ALL to determining a Native American origin. In our Amerindian Ancestry out of Acadia Family Tree DNA study, which
has been on-going since 2006, we've had participants of English and French surnames, both, emerge as not being of England
or of France, but rather of Amerindian (Native American) origins -- much to their surprise -- as assumptions had certainly
been made by professionals and family members alike that having English or French surnames indicated origin, which these surnames
did not clearly, in our Amerindian participants' stories. As participants further document their findings, our
history is repainted -- and the true colours of our heritage emerge.
I consider my 6th Great Grandfather, Joseph Gaschet de Lisle, Deputy of Bordeaux, France
during the French Revolution, and the painting of him that hangs on my living room wall for two reasons: one, to point
out that we are of diverse ancestry, and honour all of our lines, and subscribe to an open philosophy of heritage; the other,
to demonstrate the kinds of records available for people who research European family surnames. The French were and are wonderful archivists. My grandmother Asselia had a joyous
experience in researching one of our English family lines all the way back to Normandy in her day and during her travels to
France, was welcomed into the homes of families sharing her names and interest (and love of speaking French). Similarly,
she was able to trace another of the English side of our heritage to the Saxons using standard records-based research techniques
during her visits to England -- in days when none of this information was available electronically, on the Internet.
After her death in 1996, my own mother and father continued to receive Christmas cards from the English families who loved
her and her joy of living. I love one of the surnames that emerged from that study: "Hoo." The family
churches and markers, while in disrepair often times, are there, at least, and families are steadfastly interested
in sending financial contributions to preserve and restore them -- so that at some future date, they and their offspring may
travel abroad and touch the "family stone."
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Those with the Amerindian lines, as I have experienced in my own
research of my Native American roots in Nova Scotia, and four years of follow-on activities, have a different experience in
researching their heritage. The stones -- what stones? -- the records - what records? --the ancient archives?
what ancient archives? are not a part of what can be found for earliest ancestors -- the burial grounds themselves have been
overridden by others who have built their homes and communities upon them -- and the surnames -- well, they fall into the
abyss once you reach the 1600s.
As we research these Amerindian haplogroup types that emerge through our Family
Tree DNA tests and the refinements that follow, and help others who have them, the Amerindian Ancestry out of Acadia Family
Tree DNA approach does not segregate, separate, classify, offend, and deny this heritage, but rather honours the social, cultural
and genetic threads that comprise the family of our people.
Let us NOT ever forget that our approach differs
from the traditional, which would seek to eliminate consideration of the path that cannot be followed, or the name that can't
be culled from a written record. Our approach indeed has become a standard for Amerindian ancestry research, as our
study, in particular, is now referenced by others for this data in published articles and journals.
Let's be
proud of this reputation that we have developed since our start in 2006, understand that our unique approach to researching
our roots is shaking up the foundation of genealogical research as it has indeed broken the traditional model, and continue
as we have to share, communicate, and work with the researchers as we have been doing. Publish the results of your own research so that at some future date, others may follow
in your own footsteps -- or walk beside you in your journey. --Marie Rundquist
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