Sen. Elizabeth Warren has claimed for years that she is part Native American. When someone makes such a claim it is reasonable to believe that the person is talking about a substantial part of their heritage. But that is not the case with Warren.
Warren released DNA test results that show she is six to ten generations removed from a possible Native American ancestor. That’s all. And it is accurate to say “possible Native American ancestor” because the DNA test used samples of Mexican, Peruvian, and Colombian, no samples of specific Cherokee or Delaware were used because they are so hard to find. So the test used DNA similar to Native American DNA as a filler, which is not uncommon. However, claiming that six to ten generations removed is enough for official Native American status is highly uncommon.
Cherokee Nation released the following statement on Warren’s claims-
“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,” Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. said. “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.”
Bet Warren wasn’t expecting that response. For more information on why Native American populations do not rely on DNA test results to prove heritage click here.
Warren has claimed Native American status many times throughout her professional career. Benny Johnson has a list on Twitter. Here’s the start of the list, the rest is linked here–
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Harvard ate up the claim and proudly spread it around.
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Warren even refers to herself as “Cherokee” in the cook book “Pow Wow Chow.” Seriously.
Of course, Warren claims that her distinction as Harvard Law School’s “first woman of color” did not factor into Harvard’s decision to hire Warren. But Warren also believes that her claims of being Native American have now been vindicated by these newly released DNA results, so it’s hard to believe anything she claims.
David French at National Review hits the nail on the head with this–
“Her ancestry is so remote — six to ten generations removed — that she could not plausibly claim Native American status in any job application. It would constitute résumé fraud.”
That’s spot on. If anyone applying for federal assistance did what Warren did then they would be subject to federal charges of fraud.
Senators Lindsey Graham and Orin Hatch are having fun with this. Graham promises to take a DNA test. Graham said, “She’s less than 1%, I think I can beat her.” Hatch tweeted a picture of his own DNA test that showed he is “1/1032 T-Tex. The rest: other dinosaurs.” Hilarious.
And of course Warren’s choice to release dubious DNA test results have nothing to do with her embracing Native American culture. They have everything to do with attacking President Donald Trump. Warren released her results along with a barrage of tweets attacking Trump, even calling the president “a cowardly elitist” and “the most corrupt President in American history,” who “demands military parades in his honor,” and so on and so on. Make no mistake; Warren is running for president and her DNA test results are about getting her oppo out early enough that it will be of little interest come campaign season.
But NBC News and other mainstream media outlets reported that her test vindicates her claims. They don’t tell the whole story, of course, and by doing so only reminded the country that if a story can be framed negatively against Trump, then they will run with it.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren owes Native Americans an apology for continuing this farce. But don’t take our word for it. Again, Cherokee Nation said, “Senator Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage.”
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