February 26, 2020

Dear Senator Warren:

As concerned citizens of the Cherokee Nation, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, we recognize our responsibility to stand up for our communities: to those we claim and those who claim us.

Senator Warren, as you seek the Democratic nomination for President of the United States, your history of false claims to American Indian identity and the defense of these claims with a highly publicized DNA test continue to dog your political career. For Native Americans, this moment is more than an annoyance; it represents the most public debate about our identity in a generation. In a country where Indigenous people are mostly invisible, what Americans conclude from this debate will impact Native rights for years to come.

Whatever your intentions, your actions have normalized white people claiming to be Native, and perpetuated a dangerous misunderstanding of tribal sovereignty. Your actions do not exist in a vacuum but are part of a long and violent history. The Los Angeles Times recently reported that white members of fake “tribes” have been awarded over $800 million in no-bid federal contracts set aside for minority business owners. Rather than using evidence of Native ancestry, these fake tribes rely solely on family stories and commercial DNA tests. When you still defend yourself by stating you believed what you heard growing up, you set a harmful example for these white people stealing Native identity and resources with stories very similar to your own.

While the average American thinks of Native Americans as a racial category, we are actually political groups. Our rights are based on citizenship in sovereign Nations and those Nations’ treaty relationship to the United States. But that hasn’t stopped opponents to tribes from arguing that laws defending Native rights treat us differently based on race and therefore should be declared unconstitutional. If they win, it could be the end of tribes as we know them. By publicly equating race and biology with Native identity, your DNA test promoted the exact same logic the Right is currently using to try and destroy Native rights.

You have yet to fully address the harm you have caused. While your apologies are a step in the right direction, they have been vague and inadequate. Accountability is not just admitting you made a mistake, but working to correct the harm it caused. A recent collective statement by Cherokee scholars makes clear that any person who publicly identifies as Cherokee has initiated an open discussion about their identity. As a Harvard professor and U.S. Senator, you have the unique opportunity to turn this controversy into a needed learning moment.

As Native community members, academics, activists, scientists, writers, organizers, aunties, uncles, young people, and tribal citizens concerned about the future of Native rights, we call on you to make a clear public statement that includes the following:

Like many other white families, your family story of Cherokee and Delaware ancestry is false and it was wrong for you to repeat it as an adult. You have had the genealogical evidence since 2012. Stating you do not qualify for citizenship is not enough; the truth is you and your ancestors are white.

Equating Cherokee identity with the results of a DNA test was more than a misstep — it was dangerous. Your supporters and the public need to understand why. We ask that you explain that only tribal affiliation and kinship determine Native identity, and that equating Native identity with race and biology erodes the foundation of Indigenous sovereignty.

Claiming Native identity without citizenship, kinship ties, or recognition from Native communities undermines Indigenous self determination. As the most public example of this behavior, you need to clearly state that Native people are the sole authority on who is — and who is not — Native.

Native Americans come from over 574 different nations, each with our own unique histories, languages, cultures, and politics. We do not think with one mind or speak with one voice on this issue — or any other. However, Cherokee citizens are the most impacted not only by your actions but by the growing epidemic of white people claiming to be us. If you truly want to listen and change, then you need to hear all Native voices on this issue — whether or not they serve you.

You have done some good things for Indian Country during your time in political service. You have also done real harm. Right now you have the platform and the opportunity to stand firmly on the side of justice. This is not about politics or your career. This is about the well-being of our nations. The time has come for you to show true leadership and make this right.

Signed:

(Tribal affiliations listed for identification only)

ᏥᏍᏆ, ᏣᎳᎩ, ᏥᏍᏆ ᏣᎳᎩ/ O-gah-pah/ Wa-zha-Zhe ᏩᏕ ᎦᎵᏍᎨᏫ Ryan Brandon Mackey, ᏣᎳᎩᎯ ᎠᏰᎵ Cherokee Nation ᎢᏯ ᏗᎯ Candessa Tehee, Cherokee Nation ᎧᏂᎦ ᎪᎳᎭ Roy Boney, Jr., Cherokee Nation Adam Reese, Cherokee Nation Adrienne Keene, Cherokee Nation Ahyoka Youngdeer, Cherokee Nation Alan Harrover, Cherokee Nation Andrea L. Rogers, Cherokee Nation Andrea Squires, Cherokee Nation Angi Harrover, Cherokee Nation Austin Holt, Cherokee Nation Benjamin Holt, Cherokee Nation Betty Smoke, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Bill Davis, Cherokee Nation Bill Mann, Cherokee Nation Billie Jo Rich, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Billy Jack Shotpouch, Cherokee Nation Brandon Caruso, Cherokee Nation Brandon Morris, Cherokee Nation Brandon Scott, Cherokee Nation Brooke Caruso, Cherokee Nation Brian K. Hudson, Cherokee Nation Brian Kelly Jackson, Cherokee Nation Bryan Pollard, Cherokee Nation Callie Benoit, Cherokee Nation Carabeth Muskrat Samuels, Cherokee Nation Cassandra Lynn Cariker, Cherokee Nation Cassie Snell, Cherokee Nation Catherine Foreman Gray, Cherokee Nation Charles Smith, Cherokee Nation Charmaine Mankiller, Cherokee Nation and Pomo Cheryl Nichols Brown, Cherokee Nation Chris Bacon, Cherokee Nation Christopher Whitmire, Cherokee Nation Clara McCown, Cherokee Nation Cole Hogner, Cherokee Nation Courtney Logan Green Espy, Cherokee Nation Courtney McCoy, Cherokee Nation Cynthia Thompson, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Daniel Heath Justice, Cherokee Nation Daniel S. Ketcher, Cherokee Nation Daryll Mouse, Cherokee Nation David Cornsilk, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and Cherokee Nation David Montgomery, Cherokee Nation Deborah Fritts, Cherokee Nation Deboraugh Rogers, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Dewey Sunday, Cherokee Nation Dennis G. Dye, Cherokee Nation Dillard Pullium, Cherokee Nation Elissa Lyons, Cherokee Nation Eva Garroutte, Cherokee Nation Forrest Stokes, Cherokee Nation Gayle Samuels, Cherokee Nation Geneva Brixey, Cherokee Nation Grant Linihan, Cherokee Nation Gunnar Hatfield, Cherokee Nation Harry Styron, Cherokee Nation Herb Wolf, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians and Cherokee Nation Holly Gallagher, Cherokee Nation Jade Day, Cherokee Nation James Armontrout, Cherokee Nation James Gilmartin, Cherokee Nation Janet Foreman-Green, Cherokee Nation Janet Kaye Backwater, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Jared Evans, Cherokee Nation Jason Cook, Cherokee Nation Jeff Corntassel, Cherokee Nation Jeffrey Girty, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Jeffery Roaa, Cherokee Nation Jen Deerinwater, Cherokee Nation Jeanette Haynes Writer, Cherokee Nation Jeannie Tidwell, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Jennie Wilson, Cherokee Nation Jennifer Anderson, Cherokee Nation Jennifer Barger Johnson, Cherokee Nation Jennifer Kate Thiessen, Cherokee Nation Jenny Flippo, Cherokee Nation Jeremie Fisher, Cherokee Nation Jeremy Hamilton, Cherokee Nation Jerid Miller, Cherokee Nation Jerrid Grimmett, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Jesse Sexton, Cherokee Nation Jo Ann Tidwell, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians JoAnn Foster, Cherokee Nation Jonathan Radocay, Cherokee Nation Jonathan E Reynolds, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Joseph M. Pierce, Cherokee Nation Judith Matthews, Cherokee Nation Kacey Soliz, Cherokee Nation Kailey Bennett, Cherokee Nation Karen Dennis, Cherokee Nation Katie Jones, Cherokee Nation Keith Gable, Cherokee Nation Kevin Sac, Cherokee Nation Kirby Brown, Cherokee Nation Kristi Adams, Cherokee Nation Kristie Bradley, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Kristi Griffin Hansen, Cherokee Nation Krystal Ann William, Cherokee Nation Kurt West, Cherokee Nation Lianna Costantino, Cherokee Nation Linda Easter, Cherokee Nation Linda Sacks, Cherokee Nation Logan Tootle, Cherokee Nation Mandy Adair, Cherokee Nation Marcus L. Thompson, Cherokee Nation Mariah Gary, Cherokee Nation Mariah Gladstone, Cherokee Nation Marissa Jane Cundiff, Cherokee Nation Mark DeMucha, Cherokee Nation Mark Downing, Cherokee Nation Mary Aboud, Cherokee Nation Mary Brown, Cherokee Nation Mason Hudson, Cherokee Nation Matthew Anderson, Cherokee Nation Meghan Feyerabend, Cherokee Nation Melissa Duggins, Cherokee Nation Meschelle Linjean, Cherokee Nation Michael C. Lambert, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Michael Nephew, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Miranda Harris, Cherokee Nation Mitch McClain, Cherokee Nation Nataleigh Manz, Cherokee Nation Natalie Welch, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Nolan Manz, Cherokee Nation Pam Coodey-York Fox, Cherokee Nation Dr. Patricia J King, Cherokee Nation Patricia St. Peter, Cherokee Nation and Shawnee Tribe Patricia Wilson, Cherokee Nation Patsy Edgar, Cherokee Nation Paul Braun, Cherokee Nation Paul N Sunday, Cherokee Nation Phoenix Dunn, Cherokee Nation Rachel Peters, Cherokee Nation Raymond Pettit, Cherokee Nation and Creek Nation Rebecca Nagle, Cherokee Nation Regina Pickard, Cherokee Nation Regina Pritchett, Cherokee Nation Rhonda Lee Earp, Cherokee Nation Richard D. Teel, Cherokee Nation Robert Crossno, Cherokee Nation Robert Easter, Cherokee Nation Robin McLain Smith, Cherokee Nation Roldan Sack, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Ron Collett, Cherokee Nation Ryley Bunch, Cherokee Nation Sandee Tidwell Lovado, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Sasha Walker Hudson, Cherokee Nation Shanda Attika Secondi, Cherokee Nation Shane Roberson, Cherokee Nation Shauna Amezcua, Cherokee Nation Shea Vassar, Cherokee Nation Sheila Holmes, Cherokee Nation Shellie Shankle, Cherokee Nation Sherri Kay Hattori, Cherokee Nation Sherrie McElwee, Cherokee Nation Shilow Campbell, Cherokee Nation Sky Babela Wildcat, Cherokee Nation Snow Matthews, Cherokee Nation and Delaware Tribe of Indians Ali Sacks, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Taylor Keen, Cherokee Nation Thomasenia Johnson, Cherokee Nation Tracey M. Keith, Cherokee Nation Tricia Wickliffe, Cherokee Nation Tsianina Neel, Cherokee Nation Twila Barnes, Cherokee Nation Valerie Leann Kagan, Cherokee Nation Verna Bates, Cherokee Nation Vicki Creighton, Cherokee Nation Victoria M. O’Keefe, Cherokee Nation Virginia Drywater-Whitekiller, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians Wayne Divelbiss, Cherokee Nation William Curtis, Cherokee Nation William Lossiah-Bratt, Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians Wynona Burwell, Cherokee Nation Zac Russell, Cherokee Nation

The undersigned Native citizens stand in solidarity with our Cherokee relatives, friends, and colleagues who face a unique epidemic of non-Natives claiming their identity. We recognize that while the problem most often targets Cherokee identity, the public misunderstanding of what it means to be Native American threatens all of our rights. We hope that this long controversy will end and Senator Warren will do the right thing and set the record straight that Indigenous self-determination comes before before unsubstantiated family stories and DNA testing.

Ali Watson, Oglala Lakota Amanda Blackhorse, Diné (Navajo) Nation Amber Starks, Muscogee Creek Citizen Ashley Fairbanks, White Earth Anishinaabe Ashley McCray, Absentee Shawnee Tribe/ Oglala Lakota Audra Simpson, Kahnawà:ke Mohawk Candi Brings Plenty, Oglala Lakota Sioux Tribe Carole Lindstrom, Turtle Mountain Band of Ojibwe Charitie Ropati, Native Village of Kongiganak Christine Brown, Delaware Tribe of Indians Cole DeLaune, Kiowa Tribe Cori Taber, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Debbie Reese, Nambé Owingeh DeLesslin George-Warren, Catawba Nation Desi Rodriguez-Lonebear, Northern Cheyenne Nation Dina Gilio-Whitaker, Colville Confederated Tribes Emmy Scott, Spokane and Winnebego Nations Erica Tremblay, Seneca-Cayuga Nation Erin Thomas Anhalt, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Eryn Wise, Jicarilla Apache/Laguna Pueblo Eva Coyote, Delaware Tribe of Indians Iakowi:he’ne’ Oakes, Mohawk, Snipe Clan, Rotinoshonni J. Kēhaulani Kauanui, Kanaka Maoli Jacqueline Keeler, Diné/Dakota Jean M. O’Brien, White Earth Ojibwe Jeffrey Hogrefe, Absentee Shawnee Tribe and Oglala Lakota Jen Hubbard, Muscogee (Creek) Nation Jennifer Billie Chadwick, Seminole Tribe of Florida Jennina Rose Gorman/Katsistioasta , St. Reggis Mohawk Tribe Jessica Lambert, Choctaw Nation Jodi Byrd, Chickasaw Nation of Oklahoma Jodi Voice Yellowfish, Creek Nation John Little, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Johnnie Jae, Otoe-Missouria/Choctaw Jordan Marie Daniel, Kul Wičasa Oyaté, federally known as the Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Joseph Clift, Cowlitz Indian Tribe Jukari Davis, Navajo Nation Julia Coyote, Delaware Tribe of Indians Kaitlin Curtice, Potawatomi Nation Kat Redding, Powhatan (Pamunkey) and Choctaw/Chickasaw Kawennakenre Shirley Meloche, Mohawk of Kahnawake Canada Keely Toledo, Navajo Nation Kim TallBear, Sisseton Wahpeton Oyate Krystal Tsosie, Diné (Navajo) Nation Larissa Nez, Navajo Nation Lindsey Naegeli, Ottawa Tribe of Oklahoma Lucas Brown Eyes, Oglala Lakota Madeline Fernandez, Delaware Tribe of Indians Mahayla Perryman-Matthews, Seneca-Cayuga Nation Mariah Greenwood Adair, Chickasaw Nation Marla Striped Face-Collins, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Martie Simmons, Ho-Chunk Nation of Wisconsin Mary Coyote, Delaware Tribe of Indians Megan Red Shirt-Shaw, Oglala Lakota Michelle Cook, Navajo Nation Natalie Diaz, Gila River (Akimel O’odham) Nicholas Galanin, Tlingit/Unangax̂ Nick Courtney, Makah Nick Estes, Lower Brule Sioux Tribe Renee’ Frerichs, Qawalangin Tribe of Unalaska Sandy Grande, Quechua Shannon Speed, Chickasaw Nation Sheldon Beach, Chickasaw Nation Dr. Sophia Marjanovic, Fort Peck Ogala Lakota/Santa Ysabel Ipai Summer Wesley, Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma Tanaya Winder, Duckwater Shoshone Tara Moses, Seminole Nation of Oklahoma Taté Walker, Mniconjou Lakota & citizen of the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe Tiffany Midge, Standing Rock Sioux Tribe Trudie Jackson, Navajo Nation Twyla Baker, Three Affiliated Tribes (Mandan, Hidatsa, & Arikara Nation) Valerie Lambert, Choctaw Nation Virginia Mouse, Osage/Quapaw Yvonne Perryman-Matthews, Seneca-Cayuga Nation

The letter was organized by four citizens of the Cherokee Nation: Joseph M. Pierce, Daniel Heath Justice, Rebecca Nagle, and Twila Barnes. Media inquiries can be sent to the following email address: ewarrenisnotcherokee@gmail.com.

If you are a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, or the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, and would like to sign this letter, please fill out the following form: https://forms.gle/Vz2ofHxs2rEfdzZq6