Join us for our September 24th, 6:30pm, Family History Forum! These are Free programs but registration is required.
Finding Your Indigenous Roots including Métis and First Nations, with Xenia Stanford
Stuck on finding your indigenous roots? Researching indigenous roots in North America is complicated by the diversity of origin and difficulty in finding records. It Is further challenged by the definition and categorization of who is indigenous. Our goal is not to delve into the political but to focus on helping you research and document your indigenous ancestry in Canada (touching on bordering U.S. states) whether it be First Nations, Métis or other. We will cover the types of resources available and how to access and understand them. With these tools you can dig deeper into your ancestry to see where you came from and prove it.
Xenia Stanford, born in Alberta, as a child, began tracing her family roots in Canada and Austria. Later when she was an adult, she started researching her mother’s Ukrainian roots. Meanwhile two brothers married Métis women and Xenia helped them research their indigenous roots. This experience led her to become a sought-after researcher for those wishing to prove their Métis or First Nations ancestry. Many also seek her expertise to uncover their past original people of this nation including her children who descend from the pre-colonization first people of Acadia. She makes no judgement as to your purpose or your politics. She just finds out your past and helps you reach your goals. A history buff and former schoolteacher, professional researcher, librarian, records manager and archivist, business leader and management consultant and award-winning writer, she assisted Glenbow indigenous researchers, and helped Métis organizations in several provinces expand their knowledge and documentation of their people.
Family History Forums are a partnership presentation series of the Kelowna & District Genealogical Society and the Okanagan Regional Library. The topics vary but are typically at the beginner’s level in Family History research. All are welcome to these FREE Zoom presentations, but pre-registration is required through the ORL’s Events Calendar, Family History Forum – LibCal – Okanagan Regional Library (https://orl.libcal.com/event/3825017). Be sure to enter your email address correctly and watch for the email from the ORL to confirm your registration and the Zoom link plus a syllabus.