Genealogy is more than names on a family tree! Genealogist, Tracey N. Miller comes to the table for a powerful conversation exploring the intersection of family history, archival research, and the enduring legacy of the Creek Freedmen. Drawing from years of genealogical experience, Tracey shares how genealogy serves as a form of historical recovery; preserving stories that official records often overlooked or erased. Tracey is the founder of Nikki’s Roots & Records, a genealogy research company dedicated to uncovering, documenting, and preserving family stories.

Together, we discuss the transformative outcomes of her genealogical work, the inspiration behind her works, and the personal journey that led her deeper into documenting her Creek heritage and Oklahoma roots. The episode also highlights essential genealogical resources from archives and libraries to school records, census documents, and yearbooks that help families reconnect with their histories.

Our conversation further examines the historical significance of the Treaty of 1866 between the United States and the Creek Nation, the impact of the Dawes Rolls (1898–1914), and the ongoing struggles surrounding citizenship, identity, and recognition for Creek Freedmen descendants today.

This episode is a compelling exploration of ancestry, resilience, and the power of reclaiming history through genealogical research. Rather than reducing history to simple binaries, this episode challenges listeners to wrestle with the layered realities of identity, survival, power, and memory in America’s past.