Researching Your Aboriginal Ancestry at Library and Archives Canada

Part I: Researching Your Aboriginal Genealogy at Library and Archives Canada

Before Starting

Aboriginal woman and baby, Vancouver Island, British Columbia, 1912. Photographer: B.W. Leeson or William Hayhurst. Library and Archives Canada, PA-029896.

Before coming to Library and Archives Canada or going online, write down as much information as you can about every generation, starting with yourself and working back in time. As much as possible, include the names, dates of birth, marriage and death, and places of residence of your ancestors. Much of this information might be known to your family or be in old family documents. Use a standard genealogical handbook as a guide on what steps to follow and how to look up further details in the reference materials at your local library. Document your work carefully as you go along, keeping notes not just of the information you find but also of where you found it.

Note : Researchers interested in proving aboriginal ancestry for legal purposes should contact their local Indian and Northern Affairs Canada office or consult the section called "Status-Most often asked questions" on the Indian and Northern Affairs Canada Web site.