Researching Family History

Indigenous People - Alberta

Please refer also to our separate Indigenous / Métis genealogy research guide for more resources for researching Indigenous ancestors.

First Nations, Inuit, Métis are collectively referred to as Indigenous peoples.

An important note on bias and colonial records language in historical records:   

Language in historical records reflects the culture of the times in which they were written. As such, you will see terms we would not use today such as “Indian”, “Native”, and racial slurs such as “Half-Breed,” used for Indigenous peoples, “Racial Origins” used for heritage, and “white” for Caucasian people. While we strive to develop new relationships with Indigenous peoples based on recognition of their rights, respect, and cooperation, family historians will need to look for and use these types of historical terms when searching historical records.

Census Records

Census records may be a good starting point as “Racial Origins” is a column on many census returns, along with as household members, place of birth and birthdates. Determining the geographical location could also lead you to a Band/Nation name.

When searching online census records for indigenous peoples, since “Indian” is often used as a racial descriptor in the “Racial Origins” column, you can do a broad search using location and “Indian” in either the Keyword or Race search boxes available in the database. Be aware that when the head of the family was “white,” but his wife was not, often the entire family’s heritage would be classified as “white.”

See page 7-1 of our guide: Canadian Family History Resources for more information on how to search census records for indigenous peoples.

Cloverdale Library owns Microfilm number T-6554 covering the 1901 Native census returns for several provinces, including Alberta. The Indian Agencies enumerated on this microfilm include; Blackfoot (Niitsitapi, Kainai, Siksika, Piikani), Edmonton, Hobbema, Lac LaBiche, Saddle Lake, Sarcee (Tsuu t'ina) and Whitefish Lake. 

A key record set within this collection is the Department of the Interior records (RG-15), which offer considerable family history information. Notably, women can be searched by maiden name as extensive cross-referencing is provided. The RG-15 records are available in our department's microfilm collection. See the Métis Land Claims in section 7 of the library’s guide: Canadian Family History Resources.

For Métis or Half–Breed Scrip Land Records, the main collection of records is titled "Half-breeds & Original White Settlers 1870-1920.” “Scrip” refers to a system used by the Canadian government beginning in 1870, of issuing certificates for land claims made by mixed-heritage people and Caucasian settlers, for property released from the Hudson’s Bay Company’s jurisdiction in the West.  

Online

Print

Listed below is a sample of Indigenous family history books in our collection. When searching in the catalogue for books on this topic use the keywords “Indigenous peoples – Alberta”. 

Ward.  Donald B. The people:  A Historical guide to the First Nations of Alberta,  Saskatchewan and Manitoba. Library call number:  971.200497 WAR 1995

Morin, Gail.  Company Men. [A series of over 30 volumes of genealogies of men who worked for the Hudson’s Bay Company, many of whom married indigenous women.] Library call number:  929.37127 MOR 2017

Pocklington, T.C.  The Government and Politics of the Alberta Métis Settlements. Library call number:  323.1197 POC 1991

Noel, Oliver. A Pictorial History of St. Paul [des Métis] and District. Library call number: 971.233 NOE 1979

Microfilm

Section 7 of our guide: Canadian Family History Resources describes the microfilms that we have at Cloverdale for Métis scrip records. Ask the staff for assistance. 

 

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