Posted on 09/18/2015 4:18:14 PM PDT by Gamecock
Several American Indian activists are in an uproar at Dartmouth College in New Hampshire, arguing the Ivy League school has become the latest to facilitate an academic’s bogus claims of Indian heritage.
Last week, Dartmouth announced that it was naming Susan Taffe Reed director of the school’s Native American Program. Taffe Reed’s roles will include being an “advocate” for Indian students, advising the school’s Native American House, and coordinating the school’s annual Powwow event. Taffe Reed, the school proudly noted, is “president” of the “Eastern Delaware Nations” (EDN).
But many American Indians aren’t happy. Indian activists point out that the EDN isn’t recognized as a real tribe by either the federal government or the state of Pennsylvania, where the “tribe” is based. Instead, the EDN are simply a 501c(3) organization, and even the group’s website acknowledges that “some EDN members are not of Native American descent, but join as social members in support of a family member or to assist EDN in educational outreach and other activities.” Even Dartmouth acknowledges that the Eastern Delaware Nations, Inc. is not federally recognized, and it told Inside Higher Ed the school “understands that there are varying perspectives in the Native American community over what constitutes ethnicity, which is a separate issue from false claims of ethnicity.
It is not up to Dartmouth to determine which perspective is correct.” But critics say it’s not simply a matter of whether EDN is recognized, but rather whether Taffe Reed can claim any Native identity whatsoever.
A blog post on the fittingly-named site FakeIndians published obituaries and birth records for Taffe Reed’s ancestors, arguing that their heritage traced directly back to Ireland with no sign of Indian admixture. Taffe Reed, the site argues, is “a pure home grown total fake!” whose Indian “heritage” is no more than a family hobby.
Taffe Reed told Inside Higher Ed that some parts of the FakeIndians blog post are incorrect, but hasn’t specified what parts she objects to. She also defended herself by saying that Indian ideas of ethnic identity are “mixed and complex.”
But several Indians in official tribes aren’t buying it. The Facebook page for Native American Alumni at Dartmouth has seen significant anger from Indians who view the hiring as a mistake at best and a slap in the face at worst. “If she had gotten this position in her own right, I could swallow this news,” said University of Wyoming professor (and federally-recognized Delaware) Nicky Michael in a comment.
“To advertise and legitimize her is stealing from my people, family and children. Our Elders didn’t suffer for others to finally gain these positions.” Bear Christensen, a Cherokee and Dartmouth alum, savaged the school for its two-faced approach to Taffe Reed’s ethnic heritage. “[This] is a case where someone has actively embraced and promoted a false cultural connection to give themselves an air of ‘cultural authority’ as a ‘selling point’ for her academic career,” said Christensen.
“The NAP program, by choosing to hire her over other qualified candidates (and alumni!) while promoting her ‘ethnic qualifications’ in its [press release], has actively slapped Dartmouth’s Native students and alumni in the face, who have to deal with this nonsense daily.”
If Taffe Reed is a bogus Indian, she won’t even be the first in the last few months. Back in July, in the wake of the Rachel Dolezal scandal, University of California, Riverside professor Andrea Smith was savaged by Indian activists for advancing her career based on alleged Cherokee heritage she couldn’t verify.
Now wait one minute!! I grew up watching F Troop, and them there are real injuns! Don’t ruin my childhood.
I get a kick out of one of our neighbors. Whenever there is a block-party and he meets someone new he always makes it known that he is 1/16th Indian!
I’m Cherokee, and proud of it, but this is now and not then.
I’ve got a girlfriend like that. 1/32 MicMac. I always want to say what difference does it make? She’s a beautiful person no matter what, so why is that part most important?
You DO know the real name of our tribe, don’t you?
Yes.
Another blue-eyed Indian.
Husband is part Cherokee also and I think part Lumbee from the geneoalogical research I did. But he’s also part English, French and Dutch. The family has been here since 1620 so probably a lot of other also.
I’m Portuguese and German, only second generation American born so I’m pretty sure that’s all I am. I was raised though with a real dislike of hyphenated Americans, both sides became Americans the minute they stepped ashore.
The difference in immigrants over the generations is stark. My grandparents, the Portuguese most, only allowed the kids to speak English. Only the oldest four knew any Portuguese and that was mostly curses since my grandparents only swore in Portuguese. Nowdays, learning English seems to be the last thing immigrants do.
We have other friends that always make a point of saying that their friends or kids are gay!?
“Oh - we’ll be gone that weekend visiting our gay son.”
Your husband is part Ani-Yun-Wiya (Principle People)...
That is our name for our tribe...
The Muskoge (Creek) tribe called us Tsalagi (speak different words) and the white man picked this up and bastardized it to Churkee, then to Cherokee...
Just a little information...:o)
LOL, don’t know as I’d advertise that. :)
Very cool to know. Thank you.
You are welcome....
I am mostly Cherokee. Part Hebrew, English, Irish and German
I live near Seattle. I guess it shows people how open and understanding and progressive they are with regard to diversity. Unless you mention that you shoot guns, go to church and don’t believe in global warming.
Read “Poisoned Ivy”, a 1987 book about the PC war at Dartmouth against the Indians hockey team, tyrannical leftwing faculty, and a Stalinist campus culture in general.
That’s an interesting heritage, bet it was fun growing up hearing all the stories.
Well, shooting guns, going to church and not believing in global warming are just about heresy in some circles.
Oh yeah? I have a pet Narwhal.
Back in the late 1980s they Federal Government reconstituted the Catawba Tribe in Northern South Carolina.
All you had to do is prove one distant ancestor was Catawba. IIRC all that was needed was a ridiculously small percentage of Catawba blood, and then apply during open season. The required percentage was much less that is required to maintain tribal membership today.
Anyway, there were literally blond hair, blue eyed people entered onto the rolls of the Catawba tribe as 100% Indians.
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