LibraryScenariosWhen family oral history conflicts with genetic evidence
Scenario

When family oral history conflicts with genetic evidence

My family always said we were Cherokee but DNA testing shows no Native American ancestry and now I feel like I've been appropriating a culture that isn't mine.

Hypatia
Online
The coach is replying

More people experience this than they realize.

What we've seen

Discovering false ancestral claims forces confrontation with unintentional cultural appropriation and family mythology.

Ideas that help explain it
Worth thinking about

“Where Are You with Genealogy & Family History?”

If this sounds familiar, the Library can help you find the bigger picture.