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 “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.
Dartmouth's Susan Taffe Reed was forced out as director of the school's Native American Program over allegedly faking membership in the Eastern Delaware Nations.
-Jon Levine
Who knew that Elizabeth Warren was part of a movement? Apparently she is one of a great number of people who try to advance their careers by pretending to be American Indians. -John Hinderaker.
"Ethnic fraud, particularly against native people is huge. There is an element of narcissism. There is a lack of empathy because they will retaliate against native people who try to expose their fraud."
Racism, Narrative, Oops
Two artists are facing federal charges that they faked Native American heritage to sell works at downtown Seattle galleries.
Lewis Anthony Rath, 52, of Maple Falls, and Jerry Chris Van Dyke, 67, also known as Jerry Witten, of Seattle, have been charged separately with violating the Indian Arts and Crafts Act, which prohibits misrepresentation in marketing American Indian or Alaska Native arts and crafts.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office said Rath falsely claimed to be a member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, and Van Dyke falsely claimed membership in the Nez Perce Tribe. The goods included masks, totem poles and pendants sold in 2019 at Raven’s Nest Treasure in Pike Place Market and at Ye Olde Curiosity Shop on the waterfront.
"They are also all monetizing their claims."
Black Lives Matter co-founder and self-described Marxist Patrisse Cullors - who has accumulated over $3 million in luxury real estate in recent years - told college students just last summer that "capitalism" is "more tragic" than COVID-19.