He claimed to be 1/16th Cherokee, meaning his name could be just about anything. My grandfather was 1/4 Cherokee, and had a French name.
He doesn`t claim to be 1/16th Cherokee. He only mentions that he is Cherokee. Every biography I read on this guy only mentions him as Cherokee. If he was 100% Cherokee then it would be impossible for him to have the name Churchill. Look, here`s some if you don`t believe me. Here`s some random bios of him I just found on the net.
Ward Churchill
From a Native Son: Conquest and Colonization in the Americas
Ward Churchill (Keetoowah Band Cherokee) is one of the most outspoken of Native American activists and scholars in North America and a leading analyst of indigenous issues. He is a Professor of Ethnic Studies and Coordinator of American Indian Studies at the University of Colorado. Churchill serves as Associate Director of the Center for Studies of Ethnicity and Race in America at the institution. He is also co-director of the Colorado chapter of the American Indian Movement and vice chair of the American Indian Anti-Defamation Council.
http://www.speakersandartists.org/People/WardChurchill.html
Ward Churchill is perhaps one of the most provocative thinkers around. A Creek and enrolled Keetoowah Band Cherokee, Churchill is a longtime Native rights activist. He has been heavily involved in the American Indian Movement and the Leonard Peltier Defense Committee.
http://www.satyamag.com/apr04/churchill.html
He has also claimed to be 3/16th Cherokee and, if I'm not mistaken, 3/16th some other background at various times. He can't seem to keep his story straight. I have no problem with his name, only with his changing life 'history'.
He only claimed that AFTER the truth about him came out. The only thing he has is a bunch of complaints to the college from tribes he's claimed to be a member of and an ASSOCIATE membership in one tribe of the Cherokee nation, which is akin to having an ASSOCIATE membership at the local firehall.