Finding Cherokee Ancestors Workshop Planned May 14 Persons interested in learning how to trace their Cherokee heritage are invited to enroll in a day-long workshop "Finding Your Cherokee Ancestors" to be held May 14 at Community Christian Church, 2109 West Grand, Ponca City. Sponsored by the Pioneer Genealogical Society, the workshop will feature three speakers, from the Cherokee National Historical Society, using projector and screen, discussion, lecture, and question and answer sessions. Gene Norris, genealogist for the Cherokee National Historical Society, author of several family histories, and instructor in a Cherokee National History Course, will discuss how to begin researching for Cherokee ancestors and what records are available. He will also conduct a question and answer session during the latter part of the workshop. Tom Mooney has served as Archivist for the Cherokee National Historical Society for more than 25 years. Also an author, Mooney has compiled and written "Exploring Your Cherokee Ancestry," a basic tool in tracing Cherokee roots. Mooney will be speaking about using the internet to trace Cherokee ancestry including websites that are available. Roy Hamilton, born in Adair County is a registered citizen of the Cherokee Nation and has also authored a book titled "Ned Christie, the Last Cherokee Warrior." He teaches a Cherokee Nation History Course offered by the Cherokee Nation, and is a 20-year volunteer genealogist with the Historical Society. Hamilton will discuss the early day Dawes Roll and the Guion Miller Roll and how to glean information from these and other early-day rolls. Norris said, "the sessions won't be a basic beginner workshop, and attendees should know who they are, who their parents are, grandparents are, etc. It would help if attendees have a basic knowledge of how to do genealogy research for their ancestors." Norris also reminds that Cherokee records stopped when Oklahoma became a state in 1907. After that date, only federal, state and county records are available and they do not document if the subject is a member of the Cherokee Nation. Prior to 1907, Cherokee birth, death, and registered membership records were included in such documents as the Guion Miller Roll (1906-1909), Dawes (1900-1902) and in the common population census records and other records kept by the Cherokee National Council. Basically, the workshop will cover the different resources available for Cherokee research, says Norris. In addition, he reminded that "Cherokee is a nationality — not a race." In other words, being Cherokee is a matter of citizenship and not blood. In early days, a person of Cherokee blood was free to live anywhere they wanted, but they were not considered Cherokee Nation citizens unless they were recognized as such by the Cherokee Nation government and registered on a roll.In addition to reviewing information available in the rolls, Norris, Mooney and Hamilton tell how and why the records were created. Cost of registration, if received by May 7, will be $35 for individuals and $42 for couples. Registrations received after May 7 will be $40 and $47. A barbecue lunch and information materials are included in the enrollment fee. Walk-in students are welcome but lunch will not be available for those who did not pre-register. Registration check-in begins at 8:30 a.m., classes start at 9 a.m. For more information call 580-762-7272. To register for the May 14 workshop, send name, address, phone number and a check to Pioneer Genealogical Society, P.O. Box 1965, Ponca City, OK 74602. Published Sun, Apr 24, 2005, On Page 2 c Copyright ©1998-2005 The Ponca City News