Geneology Information

The Clerk's Office of the Seneca Nation Of Indians welcomes genealogy inquiries. However, because such research is very time consuming, we feel it is reasonable to charge a fee of $50.00 for this service (however, the service is free to enrolled Senecas.) Please adhere to the following quidelines when submitting your formal request for a genealogy search:
Submit your request to:

THE SENECA NATION OF INDIANS
Clerk's Office
PO Box 231
Salamanca, NY 14779

In your request, include ONLY the pertinent data of the individual(s) for whom you are searching, such as: full name, maiden name, (if applicable) birth date and/or death date. If possible, please submit it in a "family tree" format. PLEASE MAKE SURE YOU INCLUDE A RETURN ADDRESS.

Enclose the $50.00 fee (U.S. Funds) along with your request. Certified Check, Bank Check, or Money Orders only. No personal checks.

NOTE:
Please be aware that the tribal census records of the Seneca Nation Of Indians DO NOT date prior to 1858. Therefore, we are unable to assist you with searches prior to that year. Also, enrollment/membership in the Seneca Nation Of Indians is based on MATRILINEAL descent. In other words, the mother must be an enrolled member in order for the children to be enrolled. Keep in mind that our census records list ONLY members. If an enrolled Seneca man married a non-Seneca woman, the names of the wife and the resulting non-enrolled children DO NOT APPEAR in our records.

As an additional point of information, too often we receive inquiries from individuals who erroneously believe they descend from the "Iroquois Tribe". Please note that "Iroquois" is a non-Native term which is used collectively to represent six aboriginal nations which united to form a confederacy, a.k.a. "The Iroquois Confederacy". These six aboriginal nations are: The Seneca, Cayuga, Onondaga, Oneida, Mohawk, and Tuscarora. Each is a separate political and geographical entity with its own government, land base, and membership.

If you have further questions regarding the policy, please telephone the Clerk's office at
(716) 945-1790, Monday-Friday 8:00AM - 4:30 PM EST.