Elizabeth Warren Can’t Avoid Her Controversial Claims to Native American Heritage

Elizabeth Warren is participating in the Frank LaMere Native American Presidential Forum this morning.

Warren’s appearance at the forum will bring back her Native American identity controversy where she was criticized by Native American activists for “reducing their identity to a DNA test.” 

CNN: “‘The public understanding of Native identity in 2019 is like a dumpster fire. Warren poured gasoline on the dumpster fire and a private apology doesn’t make up for that,’ Nagle said.”

New York Post: “It’s going to be awkward for her even if she puts on a smile,” said Simon Moya-Smith, a 36-year-old Native American activist.

“Moya-Smith, of the Ogala-Lakota Nation, wants Warren to address the controversy, sparked after the Massachusetts senator claimed her mother was “part Cherokee and part Delaware” in 2012, then released a DNA test showing she was between 1/64th to 1/1,024th Cherokee.

“‘I think she should apologize. I think she owes an apology to all natives. Just own it. Own that you’re not native,’ Moya-Smith said.”

The video Warren put out in October 2018 detailing her claimed ancestry was widely panned after results of the DNA test were shown to be as little as 1/1024th Native American, a reality that was ignored in the video. Warren’s team recently said they would take the video down from the website, but the internet is forever. 

Warren was forced to privately apologize to the Cherokee nation for the stunt. Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. previously had rebuked Warren: 

The Intercept: “A DNA test is useless to determine tribal citizenship. Current DNA tests do not even distinguish whether a person’s ancestors were indigenous to North or South America. Sovereign tribal nations set their own legal requirements for citizenship, and while DNA tests can be used to determine lineage, such as paternity to an individual, it is not evidence for tribal affiliation. Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong. It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonoring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, whose ancestors are well documented and whose heritage is proven. Senator Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage.”

Warren was previously grilled by hosts of “The Breakfast Club” on her Native American heritage, with Charlamagne Tha God drawing comparisons between Warren and Rachel Dolezal. 

As long as Warren’s campaign continues, she will face questions about why she has claimed Native American identity throughout her life, and why she thought a DNA test and sharply produced video was the right way to diffuse criticism.