[mommytoEli]

i remember reading here before that someone did this to determine if their child was Mayan. If you did this, could you please tell me who you used?

thanks!

[Mindybeth6]

Very interesting. I really, really wish I knew what Mikayla's background was since she doesn't look like most adopted children from Guat. We are always wondering.

[Devora]

The one that I know most people have used is the Genographic Project being run by the National Geographic Society. Go to their website and on the main page look in the lower left corner for the link. There is another project as well, but I don't recall the name of it or who is running it.

However, be aware that the Genographic Project won't actually tell you if your child is Mayan. It may tell you that your child's genes match Mayan groups in Guatemala, but today "Mayan" is more a cultural and self-identity designation than a racial group. Most Ladinos are, genetically, of Mayan descent. Some of them are mixed with Spanish or other groups, but most are predominantly Mayan in terms of their phenotype and genotype. Some Ladinos have, for many generations, separated themselves from any indigenous culture. So knowing your child's genetic ancestry will not tell you whether they come from a Ladino or Mayan culture. (Not to mention that the distinction is more fluid and complex than I just described it.)

For anyone who is interested in the complexities of indigenous identity in Guatemala I recommend reading Ch'orti'-Maya Survival in Eastern Guatemala: Indigeneity in Transition by Brent Metz. The popular notion of Guatemala and Mayan groups is of the western Highlands, but Metz did an ethnography of the Ch'orti' who live in the east (specifically, in the region of Chiquimula. It's a fascinating read, has taught me a lot about life in the eastern part of Guatemala, and illuminates the complexities of indigenous vs. Ladino identity.

[mommytoEli]

well...i'm going to do eli's as an after thought.....but mostly i want to do our new baby after he is adopted. the mom says the father is African American. i don't see it...so i assumed there is no way, but i have met 3 people lately with similar coloring of the baby, who are all half AA. go figure....so i want to know. i know it doesn't matter to me, but i think it would matter to him. i don't want to tell him his whole life he is something he is not, or vice versa...so i'm hoping this test would give us some answers. i think it would be cool for eli to have as well, just another piece to his puzzle...regardless of what it says. i'd be curious to know what it says.....eventough i TOTALLY get what you are saying about Mayan being more cultural and identity than racial grouping. thanks for the idea....i'll start at NGS!

[Devora]

I'm not sure how much the NGS project will help you -- it is testing for "deep ancestry". However, the other project I'm thinking of was used in the PBS documentary African American Lives. Here's a link to some clips about the DNA technology they used. They might identify the other project.

African American Lives 2 . Videos | PBS

[giovanni7460]

Wow I just check the website. It is really cool. Giovannis is Maya. His mother is in traditional Maya clothing in the DNA photo. Antonio's mother is very Hispanic looking and not Maya looking at all. She actually looks like my husband sister. They are Peruvian. But I think Antonios father must be AA. Antonio has features that are nothing like his others. I think this is exciting for my sons to have for thenselves.
Thank yo for the information.
Patty

[mommytoEli]

Originally Posted by Devora

I'm not sure how much the NGS project will help you -- it is testing for "deep ancestry". However, the other project I'm thinking of was used in the PBS documentary African American Lives. Here's a link to some clips about the DNA technology they used. They might identify the other project.

African American Lives 2 . Videos | PBS

ahhh. well, that's a bummer. i might try anyways just so i can say i did.

[Tammy2005]

Anyone who has tried the above, is it free to do? when I go on the web site, its states to buy a kit. Thanks Tammy

[Devora]

No, it's not free. The site should list the cost -- I think it's around $100.

[Quesita]

I'm pretty sure that the test will only tell you the maternal line... mother, grandmother, great grandmother, etc. But it should reach pretty far back into history, which is fascinating!!!

I plan to do this for Liana, to confirm which region she is from. I also plan to research the history and accomplishments of her ancestors from that region, and incorporate them into our family stories.

[akasohappy]

I think this is really neat and want to do it for Kate.
My DH is also interested (he is adopted and does not know any family history, etc.)
The Nat'l Geo. one show the migration pattern of maternal relatives.
I think that is cool.
I found a different one online that can even pinpoint areas in Europe (for DH) that family may have migrated from. It costs more money (@ $350)
My mom and dad always did family geneology when I was a kid and I thought it was boring, but my mom loved it when I asked her how to find out surname info.
I know that surnames are not completely indicitive of where you are from, but still it is interesting.
I researched the 4 family surnames Kate's birthgrandparents had and 3 of them are straight up from the same region in Galicia Spain and the other is Swiss German.
I am fascinated by how did they get to Guatemala?
How many generations lived there?
Were her family surnames really surnames brought with them from another country or were these just names that passed down from intermarriage and mixed with Mayan blood? Is she Mayan?
I figure the National Geographic test would show Asian migration if she is and if not than I guess I could go from there.
I would love to have a searcher get this kind of info.
(and of course share photos and info. if her birthmom wanted too)
I guess I am more like my mom than I thought! ha ha