Autobiography

Student Autobiography Worksheet

Answer the following questions about your family’s background or a family of your choice (all that you know or can find out).

1. · When did your/their family(ies) come to the U.S.?
2. · From where did your/their family(ies) come?
3. · Do you trace your/their family heritage to more than one country outside the U.S.? Which countries?
4. · What language(s) did your/their relatives speak?
5. · Do you or any of your/their relatives speak a non-English language? Which language(s)?
6. · Were you or any of your or their family being researched have family that was adopted? How has this impacted your/their ability to know your/their family’s history?
7. · To which race(s) or ethnic group(s) do your/their ancestors belong?
8. · How do you define your/their racial/ethnic identity?
9. · Are you/they a first-generation American?

· If you/they have any Native American heritage, know someone else who does, or find a celebrity that does, please answer the three questions below:

1. Do you/they have some Native American heritage (or Amerindian heritage from other countries in the Americas)? From which tribe(s) is this heritage? Be as specific as possible.
2.  Are you/they a formal member of the tribe(s)?
3.  Do you consider your/their identity Native American? If so, to which tribe(s) do you belong?

Combine these answers into a statement (350 to 700 words) defining your/their complex identity.