Distorted Descent: White Claims to Indigenous Identity, Inventing an Indigenous People in Algonquin Territory, Settler Colonialism + Native Ghosts: An Autoethnographic Account of the Imaginarium of Late Capitalist/Colonialist Storytelling, Waterloo, Ontario: University of Waterloo, Becoming Indian: The Struggle Over Cherokee Identity in the Twenty-First Century, Native American DNA: Tribal Belonging and the False Promise of Genetic Science, APTN Investigates: Cowboys and Pretendians, "Indigenous 'Race Shifting' Red Flags: A Quick Primer for Reporters and Others", Pretendians and Their Impact on Mtis Identity in the Academy, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Pretendian&oldid=1138314384, Erika T. Wurth is a novelist claiming Apache/Chickasaw/Cherokee descent whose novel, This page was last edited on 9 February 2023, at 01:08. The pretendians will be exposed by fellow indigenous people or God. Black Natives should never see this type of behavior from someone with such a large platform, whom theyd entrusted to advocate on their behalf. Keeler said she was inspired to create the document this year in response to a New York Times op-ed by Claudia Lawrence a freelance journalist who has since been accused of being a Pretendian. Karendian Vowel. Taking a key step to advance a project that will transform the campus residential experience and the campus itself UC Santa Barbara has released a notice of preparation for a new student housing development. But we didnt listen. "Jeff Bezos is awful! Littlefeather died on 2 October following a breast cancer diagnosis. All because she thinks she has the authority to question other's heritage. Fruitlands show postponed over this 'profoundly divisive' issue", "Museum won't verify claims of tribal ancestry after artists withdraw from show", "The Curious Case of Gina Adams: A "Pretendian" investigation", "Dear Unsuspecting Public, Jimmie Durham Is a Trickster Jimmie Durham's Indigenous identity has always been a fabrication and remains one", United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, "Vancouver curator's Indigenous ancestry claims panned as 'pretendian', "Who Bears the Steep Costs of Ethnic Fraud? Early life. Pretendian: In case you need more proof than Sacheen Littlefeather's listing on Keeler's fictitious Pretendian list that Keeler was attempting to scam Littlefeather. It is profitable to BECOME an Indian nowadays, and a laminated membership card by dubious groups such as the St. Francis-Sokoki group up in Swanton, or a Nulhegan membership card suffices today as proof of Abenaki descent. In an apparent response to these incidents, Navajo and Yankton Dakota writer Jacqueline Keeler recently created an "alleged pretendian" list a spreadsheet of people she thinks are pretending to be Indian. Researchers found her people actually originated from Eastern Europe and Russia. She blocked me on twitter too and Sharp also block Cam Foreman, of Redding Rancheria, whose ancestor had to be DUG UP for a DNA test, which, at 99.8% wasn't a strong enough match. There is an element of narcissism. Indeed, some Odanak Abenaki Families descendants do in fact reside in Vermont. The assumption of Indigenous identity, through the growth of the so-called Eastern Mtis movement, is clearly, at least in terms of its foundational leadership and organizational nature, antagonistic at a fundamental level towards Indigenous peoples and livelihoods.[45]. What more do you need? To people like Bourassa, we are indeed a costume, except one you get to wear all year long and benefit from professionally because it checks that box that was created to even-out the field that cannot ever be evened out just by a box. As a practice, being a pretendian is considered an extreme form of cultural . [48] Discussing her research, she wrote for the Globe and Mail, Who are these people? Rather than trying to heal the wound.. Keelers methodology and ethics around investigating peoples Indigenous identity is extremely flawed and her credibility is out the window. Believe it or not, some non-Indian folks, not steeped in this stuff, dont know what a Pretendian, a Defendian, a Karendian and/or a Kendian are. Several people on the list have also denied Keelers claims of fraud. Indigenous nations hold the power to decide who is and is not a member of their nations. Keeler is apparently going to publish the Pretendian list. Because I was once also a race-shifting white guy. To receive new posts and support our work, consider becoming a free or paid subscriber. Keeler had blocked us, and she deleted her three Twitter responses that we noted above. Im investigating actual ethnic fraud which harms Native people. Keeler included places of employment, LinkedIn profiles and, in some cases, the names of their actual Native relatives or in-laws. Mr. Stevens claims repeatedly that his maternal grandmother was hiding her identity by merely and only using Lillilan/Pauline or Delia as her first name, to avoid the 1931 Eugenics sterilization law of Vermont. https://t.co/pW3Uwb8xdc, Kayla-Wayla (@KaylaWayla20) May 2, 2021. And in her defense, one PECHANGA educator, she checked out, not enrolled, IS Pechanga by blood/birth her parents died without getting her enrolled, and now is caught in Pechanga's moratorium. A screenshot from 2014 purporting to show Jacqueline Keeler advocating for dressing up in blackface began circulating on Twitter. Yes, people lying about their ancestry to gain some personal advantage is wrong, It is not that the type of effort that Keeler is undertaking is bad. Despite being enrolled in a federally recognized tribe (a term Keeler emphasizes a lot), Campbell remains on the alleged pretendian list. This is a contentious document that questions peoples identity by insinuating ethnic fraud is being carried out. Today, the Nulhegan groups leader, Don Stevens has hijacked a 1796 Deed in northern Vermont and New Hampshire, ratified by Louis Metallic in the 1830s, implying that his ancestor Peter Phillips Sr. (1832-1906) and his ancestors were Abenakis connected to that Deed. The list contains both those being probed and those who have already been disavowed by tribes they claim affiliation with. She may need more disclaimers and better notes, and may otherwise be doing a poor job, but I see no reason why a work in progress like hers ought to be kept a secret from the rest of us. A pretendian is a person who has falsely claimed Indigenous identity by claiming to be a citizen of a Native American or Indigenous Canadian tribal nation, or to be descended from Native ancestors. Indeed, some deceivers have argued that her list is in itself racist, or that it has racial undertones, because it includes people who identify as both Black and Native. Any findings should only be released publicly after they have been determined. May 14, 2021 / May 19, 2021 by Angelina Newsom | 12 Comments on Opinion: The Real Problem With Jacqueline Keelers Alleged Pretendian List. Black Natives should never see this type of behavior from someone with such a large platform, whom theyd entrusted to advocate on their behalf. Writer Jacqueline Keeler, who rose in infamy herself after publishing a list of people she claimed where "Pretendians" in 2021, claims Littlefeather wasn't Native, and is backed by some of . But we didnt listen. Not the people or communities of the identity being claimed. Malea Powell is on Jacqueline Keeler's Alleged Pretendian list as debunked (not Native) . Adopt and donot adopt. Why aren't either public to allow for observation and/or scrutiny without the need for data collection? In the hunting and fishing realm, they are mostly white men. Its worse to shut down someone trying to reconnect with their ancestral roots than to let a pretendian slip by. It has meant, more than anything, a feeling of utter powerlessness within the structures of strong mainstream institutions. And then I stopped pretending, beginning to research a thousand and one fellow race shifters social, historical, and genealogical backgrounds who claim today, to be thee Vermont or New Hampshires Abenakis who have Vermont State recognition, and have their laminated membership cards at the ready. Tinsel Korey Since 2009, there have been numerous reports about Tinsel being another pretendian. Unless a person shares their background and history, appearance isnt going to give anything away. They indignantly assert that no one has the right to question her self-identity. The Eugenics didnt target Abenakis, but rather Poor White persons, and families, as well as French-Canadians, and Black families such as the Phelps up in St. Albans, Vermont. A screenshot from 2014 purporting to show Jacqueline Keeler advocating for dressing up in blackface began circulating on, The conversation apparently took place during organizing action against Native. Keeler has a reputation for doing this kind of thing. The Native American Journalists Association has since rescinded Lawrences membership. Interlude: Community, Pretendians, & Heartbreak", "Push to remove 'pretendians' from Algonquin membership rekindled after CBC investigation Analysis revealed letter linked to 1,000 Indigenous ancestry claims is likely fake", "The violence of pretending to be Indigenous - The recent call for organizing a Canada-wide dialogue about Indigenous identity by the First Nations University of Canada (FNUniv) is a solid step toward recognizing this as an ongoing problem. It is so difficult to hold one another accountable these days. Its not that hard to see why the Northern Cheyenne might want a Senator in the tribe even if he doesnt have the right ancestry. [4][5][6][7] The term is a pejorative colloquialism, and if used without evidence could be considered defamatory. Arer you saying your uncle wouldnt have married her if she werent a Fauxcahontas? Unclear how he got enrolled. Keeler doesnt mention if she reached out to Northern Cheyenne tribal officials. Keeler is doing the colonizers work and just being kind of a toxic bully. A controversial piece in the San Francisco Chronicle features interviews with the actress sisters, who say she wasnt part of a Native American tribe. But call the Sault Tribe enrollment department if you must. Fair warning, I know Jackie Keeler and she stood with us at a protest at the BIA. We've received your submission. The Vermont Eugenics Records NEVER once mentioned in the 40+ boxes of materials the word Abenaki for any of his or any other family (including my ancestors, the Wood(w)ards, nor their lateral line relatives, the Ways, Sweetsers, etc. A list of allegedly fake Native Americans has begun circulating in tribal and academic circles, accusing 195 people of falsely claiming an Indian identity for personal gain. Jacqueline Keeler. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Pow Wows are one of the best ways to connect with your ancestral heritage and celebrate Native American culture. Writer Jacqueline Keeler, who rose in infamy herself after publishing a list of people she claimed where Pretendians in 2021, claims Littlefeather wasnt Native, and is backed by some of the actress and activists estranged sisters. Hence, she believes that some on the list are hiding behind the Black Lives Matter movement by strategically labeling her list racist and pointing to times, We attempted to respond to Keeler with a calm, rational tweet, assuring her we werent attacking her; rather, we were investigating the Posts coverage. While faking Indigenous American identity for positions of prestige is a problem, sovereign tribes and nations should be leading investigations into citizenship claims. In response to an Indigenous Wire item yesterday about the way the New York Post treated a picture of writer and activist Jacqueline Keeler in its coverage of the Pretendian/Karendian/Defendian Native identity and ethnic fraud controversy, Keeler shot the messenger in this case, yours truly. When individuals assert themselves as Native when they are not culturally Indigenous, and if they do not understand their tribal nation's history or participate in their tribal nation's society, who benefits? In a statement to CBC News, the chief and council of the Algonquins of Pikwakanagan First Nation say that those they are seeking to remove "are fraudulently taking up Indigenous spaces in high academia and procurement opportunities. A pretendian (portmanteau of pretend and Indian) is a person who has falsely claimed Indigenous identity by claiming to be a citizen of a Native American or Indigenous Canadian tribal nation, or to be descended from Native ancestors. In 2015 Reed was forced out as director of the schools Native American Program over allegedly faking membership in the Eastern Delaware Nations. Screenshots and links. [31], In January 2021, Navajo journalist Jacqueline Keeler began investigating the problem of settler self-indigenization in academia. . Jacqueline Keeler is compiling a long list of Pretendians that attempt to speak on behalf of Native people, take up space intended for Native people, or worse, prizes, scholarships, and awards. Pretendians are a major problem yet Im disturbed that theres a list like this that feels arbitrary. Be it said the four winds drew me near my last acceptance at a university before i gave up was to LSSU. In response to an Indigenous Wire item yesterday about the way the New York Post treated a picture of writer and activist Jacqueline Keeler in its coverage of the Pretendian/Karendian/Defendian Native identity and ethnic fraud controversy, Keeler shot the messenger in this case, yours truly. By 1990, many years of pushback by Native Americans against pretendians resulted in the successful passage of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (IACA) - a truth-in-advertising law which prohibits misrepresentation in marketing of American Indian or Alaska Native arts and crafts products within the United States. First of all, Sovereignty has always been limited with ANY federally recognized tribe. [41] Academic Dina Gilio-Whitaker wrote that the truth about community leaders is "crucial", even if it means losing a "hero", and that the work Littlefeather did is still valuable, but there is a need to be honest about the harm done by pretendians, especially by those who manage to fool so many people that they become iconic:[35], The stereotype Littlefeather embodied depended on non-Native people not knowing what they were looking at, or knowing what constitutes legitimate American Indian identity. If the editors had known that there were questions about her connection to the Native community, this essay would not have been published until those questions had been resolved.. There is a lack of empathy because they will retaliate against native people who try to expose their fraud.. Everyone on this list has made public claims through interviews, in books authored, documentaries, and even in Congressional testimony. The Pee Dee tribes in South Carolina are thoroughly documented and are supposed to become federally-recognized soon, along with the Waccamaw tribe. Most claim Native Nations in the States, only a few are Metis from Canada operating here in the U.S. Michelle Latimer is not on it since she's mainly working her grift in Canada. She called Keelers allegations a witch-hunt and provided proof of her ancestry, the New York Post reported in January. The crux of the article is as follows: Cruz' sisters deny that . My grandparents didnt even speak English! [38] In response, Bourassa admitted that she does not have status in the communities that she claimed but insisted that she does have some Indigenous ancestors and that she has hired other genealogists to search for them. Keeler insists Agards heritage traces itself back to Barbados and showed genealogical records which she said backed up the assertion. A list of allegedly fake Native Americans has begun circulating in tribal and academic circles, accusing 195 people of falsely claiming an Indian identity for personal gain. The Google doc can be viewed by requesting access with an email address. Lawrence is on the list. Saturdays article in The Chronicle spurred backlash from many Native American people. Theres also a lot of personal data being collected for this list and made public. Listen closely, to the reality and truth, discern the lies and distortions, and be careful. Indigenous impersonation is not an accident. This phenomenon took place following the "lndian Preference" regulations in new hiring practices at the Bureau of lndian Affairs in the early 1970s. Keeler references we in many of her posts regarding this list without publicly disclosing exactly who else is involved. [32] Academic Dina Gilio-Whitaker, who reviewed Keelers documentation on Sacheen Littlefeather before it was published (see below), wrote that in her opinion Keeler did solid research. I could very easily say Keeler has no connection to the Navajo Nation, not sure how she got enrolled, and publish her name on a list. Your email address will not be published. The "Alleged Pretendians List" is the creation of Jacqueline Keeler, a Native American writer and activist who has spent years busting fakers in politics and academia. 'Native American' novelist praised by GMA, NYT accused of being a 'Pretendian' By Isabel Vincent Our rationale was that Fox News, owned by the same people that run the Post, has manipulated pictures of people it has wanted to portray unflatteringly in the past, so this certainly could have been the case here. What Is Land Acknowledgement? If colonialism has not eradicated Indigenous people by starvation, residential schools, the reserve system, taking their lands and languages, scooping their children, and doing everything to assimilate Indigenous peoples, then the final act is to become them. Keeler seems to be going on the latter much of the time and is not humble enough admit an error when she comes to an erroneous conclusion, that is later refuted by hard evidence. In October 2022, Teillet published the report, Indigenous Identity Fraud, for the University of Saskatchewan. [32] Working with other Natives in tribal enrollment departments, genealogists and historians, they began following up on the names many had been hearing for years in tribal circles were not actually Native, asking about current community connections as well as researching family histories "as far back as the 1600s" to see if they had any ancestors who were Native or had ever lived in a tribal community. Many of the accused sit in prestigious academic perches. Creating an alleged pretendian list of possible offenders with incomplete research, possible bias and implication of actual Natives alongside alleged pretensions isnt safe for Indian Country nor should it be the standard. ", Slippery Characters: Ethnic Impersonators and American Identities. What compels someone to say this at their own sister's funeral? ", "Yellowstone Star Kelsey Asbille Grows Into Her Cherokee Identity Onscreen", "Kelsey Chow speaks Chinese for LA Teen Festival", "Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Says Wind River and Yellowstone Actress is Not Enrolled nor Descended from Tribe", "Eurasian Actress Exposed After Falsely Claiming She Was Part Native American Over Film Role", "Iron Eyes Cody, 94, an Actor And Tearful Anti-Littering Icon", "Native Son: After a Career as Hollywood's Noble Indian Hero, Iron Eyes Cody is Found to Have an Unexpected Heritage", "Disney Exploiting Confusion About Whether Depp Has Indian Blood", "Sonny Skyhawk on Johnny Depp, Disney, Indian Stereotypes and White Film Indians", "Johnny Depp's History of Racism and Broken Promises to Native Americans", "Why I Question Joseph Boyden's Indigenous Ancestry", "Author Joseph Boyden's shape-shifting Indigenous identity", "Identity of Indian Memoirist is Disputed", "Agent Confirms Author Nasdijj and Gay-Erotica Writer Timothy Barrus Are Same Person", "Publisher stops issuing memoirs by disputed author", Stanisaw Supatowicz. 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