Answer the following questions about your family’s background or a family of your choice (all that you know or can find out).
• When did your/their family(ies) come to the U.S.?
• Where did your/their family(ies) come from?
• Do you trace your/their family heritage to more than one country outside the U.S.? Which countries?
• What language(s) did your/their relatives speak?
• Do you or any of your/their relatives speak a non-English language? Which language(s)?
• Were you or any of your or the family being researched have family that was adopted? How has this impacted your/their ability to know your/their family’s history?
• To which race(s) or ethnic group(s) do your/their ancestors belong?
• How do you define your/their racial/ethnic identity?
• Are you/they a first-generation American?
If you/they have any Native American heritage please answer the three questions below:
• Do you/they have some Native American heritage (or Amerindian heritage from other countries in the Americas)? From which tribe(s) is this heritage? Be as specific as possible.
• Are you/they a formal member of the tribe(s)?
• Do you consider your/their identity Native American? If so, to which tribe(s) do you belong?
Combine these answers into a statement (350 to 700 words) defining your/their complex identity.
