After a prominent figure in the field of Indigenous arts and culture was recently discovered to lack Indigenous heritage, some experts are calling for a reevaluation of the Canadian institutions that have supported these individuals in their careers.
Renowned author Thomas King, based in Ontario and known for works like “Green Grass, Running Water” (1993) and “The Inconvenient Indian: A Curious Account of Native People in North America” (2012), revealed in a Globe and Mail article that he had wrongly believed he had Cherokee ancestry for most of his life.
This revelation echoes similar cases involving well-known figures such as author Joseph Boyden, musician Buffy Sainte-Marie, and filmmaker Michelle Latimer, who adapted King’s “Inconvenient Indian” for a documentary in 2020 prior to questions being raised about her Indigenous background.
Allyson Stevenson, the Gabriel Dumont Institute Chair in Métis Studies at the University of Saskatchewan, expressed concern about the increasing instances of prominent individuals falsely claiming Indigenous identity and occupying significant roles in shaping public understanding of Indigenous issues in Canada.
Despite growing up believing he was part Cherokee based on information from his mother, King, now 82, emphasized that he did not intentionally misrepresent his heritage and was deeply affected by the news of his true ancestry. However, rumors questioning his Indigenous roots had circulated for over a decade, according to Stevenson and others.
Stevenson emphasized the importance of honesty and thorough research in establishing one’s identity, especially before building a career around it. Hayden King, executive director of the Yellowhead Institute, commended Thomas King for addressing the longstanding rumors himself but noted the striking similarities with other cases of individuals falsely claiming Indigenous ancestry.
There is now a call for Canadian institutions to critically evaluate their support for non-Indigenous individuals who have claimed Indigenous identities, as scholars like Hayden King and Stevenson question why these individuals have been given platforms over Indigenous voices with verified ancestries and lived experiences.
Amy Shawanda, director of research at Kenjgewin Teg, expressed a lack of sympathy for King and emphasized the need for reparations to the communities impacted by individuals like King who have received honors and funding meant for Indigenous people based on false claims of identity. Shawanda stressed the importance of holding such individuals accountable and seeking restitution for the harm caused.
Thomas King, in his Globe and Mail essay, indirectly acknowledged the financial benefits and opportunities his claimed identity brought him and the potential impact it had on authentic Indigenous voices. While some have called for apologies and reparations from King, he has not issued a formal apology, citing his lack of awareness regarding his true heritage.
The unfolding situation has sparked discussions about the need for greater transparency and accountability in the representation of Indigenous voices and experiences within Canadian institutions, with a focus on ensuring that authentic Indigenous perspectives are uplifted and respected.