We are launching “Find Your Roots, Claim Your Story,” a community-driven initiative by the San Antonio Mission Indian Descendants (SAMID) to identify, reconnect, and uplift descendants of the Native American communities of the San Antonio Missions—many of whom are unaware of their heritage.

Like many others, our founders only discovered their ancestry through research. This project aims to make that journey accessible to others by creating a public-facing outreach campaign and a digital registry where individuals can share family history and begin tracing their lineage.

In collaboration with universities across San Antonio, we are building a multi-institutional effort that combines community knowledge, academic research, and public engagement. Participants will access a simple intake form (via QR code and online platform) to begin documenting their stories, which will contribute to a growing database of descendants and historical connections.

This initiative is about more than genealogy—it is about restoring visibility, identity, and voice to a living community whose presence has often been overlooked. By helping people uncover their roots, we empower them to reclaim their stories and better understand their place in the history and future of San Antonio.