A group of Native Americans pressed Sen. Elizabeth Warren to make a more convincing statement disavowing her past claims of having Native American heritage.
“Whatever your intentions, your actions have normalized white people claiming to be Native, and perpetuated a dangerous misunderstanding of tribal sovereignty,” the group of 200 Cherokees and other Native Americans told the Massachusetts Democrat in a letter reported by the Los Angeles Times on Wednesday. “Your actions do not exist in a vacuum but are part of a long and violent history.”
“You have yet to fully address the harm you have caused,” the group added. “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 caused.”
Warren has consistently been criticized and mocked for claiming to have Native American roots.
In applying for law school professorships a few decades ago, Warren claimed to be Native American, a move some critics say she made in an effort to advance her career. In 2018, the senator released the results of a DNA test that suggested “strong evidence” that she has some Native American blood months before she formally announced her campaign for the presidency.
The stunt provided fodder for President Trump to call the senator “Pocahontas,” and Native American groups condemned her for it. Facing backlash, Warren apologized to the Cherokee Nation for the DNA test.
“We are encouraged by this dialogue and understanding that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws, not through DNA tests,” tribe spokeswoman Julie Hubbard said at the time.
