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My grandparents were so afriad of being sent to a reservation, that when the people came around to schools to enroll Native Americans, they told their children, "Don't you dare tell anyone that you're Indian. Don't you dare."

My ancestors didn't keep very good records, and I cannot "prove" what percentage of Cherokee and Choctaw I am. However, the genealogical searches give too many clues that say I am, on my mother's side. On my father's, a great-great-great-grandmother was Pawnee. The Pawnees at that time were still in Nebraska Territory.

I may not be able to prove what I am, but I'm still proud that Native American blood flows in my veins.

My dad's mom was half blood. But the family & kids were so "embarrassed" about having Indian blood that nobody ever admitted it or acknowledged that they carried the blood.

I've no clue as to even the tribe, but I know that my grandmother's mom was a full blood, married to a French Canadian Trapper. I don't even have a clue as to how to trace any of it.

It's almost impossible to prove tribal membership even when you know what tribe, especially if a family has hidden the truth.

*sigh* I've given up trying, but I know we have Cherokee from both sides of the family, Pawnee from my father's side, and Choctaw and Apache from my mother's.

I'd certainly be interested in just finding which tribe she was from. Gaining a membership isn't important. I've no clue how to trace geneology lines.