One method for finding out what the best census would be for your tribe is to contact them. Which takes us to another important step in tracing your heritage. Contact your tribe. If you are interested in officially registering with them, ask them if they have any specific guidelines or blood quantum that apply specifically to them to qualify for tribal membership . A blood quantum refers to the percentage of your blood that matches the tribe .
Some tribes have well-documented records of past members.
Your tribe may have all the information necessary for you to trace your heritage. Contact the registration department of your tribe. Ask them where you can find information concerning your genealogy . If you are descended from Eastern tribes that disbanded before the United States government came into being in 1789, it is not possible to officially register yourself as a member of those tribes. A census is often an integral part of searching for your Native American heritage.