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Research of a family's Cherokee ancestry can take many avenues. One of those may go through the Cherokee Heritage Center and its geneological archives. Kathy Harmon, geneological assistant, and Cherokee historian Tom Mooney assist people in their searches at the center, which is located at Park Hill southeast of Tahlequah. Microfilm, numerous geneology books, Cherokee history books and other books on Cherokee families are used in family searches.

For in-depth research at the Heritage Center the fee is $15 a day, Harmon said. "Our geneology reading room is well-lit and well-equipped," Harmon said.

If a family has an ancestor's birth, marriage or death certificate, or other information that can aid in a search, they should bring all the information they have, Harmon said. "They also need to find out as much as they can about their ancestors by talking to their relatives."

Many people look for their ancestors in the Dawes Commission Roll Book, which is used for Certification of Degree of Indian Blood and was compiled from 1899-1906. Information also may be obtained about tribal people using the 1900 Oklahoma Territory census, the Cherokee Nation Registration Department or the tribal rolls in the Oklahoma State Historical Society. There are also other rolls listing Cherokee people that are available at the Heritage Center, other museums and research facilities.

A program entitled First Families of the Cherokee Nation was established last year by the Cherokee Heritage Center to locate as many Cherokee families as possible who can trace their ancestors to the Cherokee Removal or Trail of Tears. A second benefit from the program is that families can also trace their Cherokee ancestry as far back as possible, Harmon said.

The deadline for this year's Heritage Center's First Families program is Dec. 31. Those Cherokee families who can manage to trace their ancestry to the removal before the deadline will be charter members of the First Families of the Cherokee Nation.

"I wish more people in the Cherokee Nation would respond and participate in this," Harmon said. "I think it is important for their children and grandchildren."