GenGenies & Special Population & Interest Groups
The Reality of Special Population Groups
Case solvability largely depends on the number of DNA database matches and available electronic records. Most U.S. DNA testers have European ancestry, benefiting from extensive record-keeping in Europe, which leads to higher case resolution rates for those of European descent.
However, as more individuals from diverse backgrounds—African, Hispanic, Native, Asian, and Jewish-American—participate in DNA testing and genealogy sites, connections grow and family histories are more easily reconstructed.
GenGenies assists clients of all ethnicities and has access to specialists when needed. Efforts are ongoing to make investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) and related records more equitable for all U.S. populations. Read about some below.
IGG's Initiatives for Special Populations & Interest Groups
Ramapo College & FamilyTreeDNA's Latin American Project
A Collective Effort: The 1921 Tulsa Massacre Identification Project
A Collective Effort: The 1921 Tulsa Massacre Identification Project
There are over 1,400 unidentified human remains in Pima County alone, mostly Hispanics who did not survive crossing the border.
In an effort to get them back to their families, FamilyTreeDNA is handing out free DNA tests to those of Hispanic origin with at least one Hispanic grandparent. Ramapo College is administrating the kits. .
We collected 100 new tests earlier this year which one has already resulted in a victim's return to their family in Mexico.
A Collective Effort: The 1921 Tulsa Massacre Identification Project
A Collective Effort: The 1921 Tulsa Massacre Identification Project
A Collective Effort: The 1921 Tulsa Massacre Identification Project
Several voluntary IGG firms, DNA Labs International & the City of Tulsa are working to identify victims of the 1921 Tulsa Massacre who are buried in unnamed graves.
Imperative to identification is more testing of our African-American citizens who can provide pertinent family histories, therefore promoting connections to work with.
Become a genetic witness if you believe you are descendant of a victim. If you have already taken a DNA test, be sure to download and upload your raw DNA file to DNAJustice, GEDmatch & FamilyTreeDNA.
Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women Movement
A Collective Effort: The 1921 Tulsa Massacre Identification Project
Private Facebook Groups with a Purpose to Heal
Native Hope is an organization addressing the injustices done to Native Americans via inspiring storytelling to break barriers and bring healing of historical wounds. They bring much needed focus to indigenous victims who are missing or affected by violent crime.
Currently, IGG mainly disproves NA ethnicity in people who have been told they are. Only when more true NA descendants test, IGG practitioners can help to narrow this gap for any incredibly important and cherished Native Victims.
Private Facebook Groups with a Purpose to Heal
Private Facebook Groups with a Purpose to Heal
You can really dig deep into average U.S. citizens putting differences aside to piece together our fractured national history.
Members of the Lockett family have created a private Facebook Group with rules tolerating only camaraderie and respect as they and their 16,800 members research and place the descendants of the enslaved and enslavers in proper records with their real names. They are working together to heal and figure out how they are related, promoting connection over disconnect.
Jewish Genealogy Surname Projects
Jewish Genealogy is a beast to unravel, but with the indefatigable work of volunteers and genetic genealogy enthusiasts, many are now tracing the migration routes of Jewish families back to the temporary homelands of different eras.
The JGSP is working to create the largest "Jewish Family Finder Database on Facebook." They rely on JewishGen.org to collect, translate, digitize and make available precious records to piecing the often lost history of the Jews.
Dept. of Defense's Promise of Military Repatriation
Giving unknown POW/MIA soldiers their names back is a mission of the U.S. Department of Defense and the Armed Forces Medical Examiner and Lab.
To date, Independent Genealogist Megan Smolenyak states, "I’ve had the privilege of delving into the roots of 1,711 heroes, and 72 have been identified and returned to their families. That 23 occurred in the last year speaks to constantly improving recovery and identification techniques and technologies."