[Repealthe17thAmendment]

As a third generation Okie (preceding statehood), I can assure you that not everyone wanted to claim indian heritage. In fact, many of us had a rather low opinion of the indians we came in contact with. I generally found them to be kind and gentle, but not overly bright or industrious.

Of course, this is nothing more than anecdotal, but this idea that they possessed some mystical wisdom or nobility didn't really start until the late 70's or early 80's. Coincidentally, about the time Elizabeth Warren was looking for work.

[M1903A1]

That’s what my mother said too (her grandmother was full-blood Cherokee). Until more recent years, Indian heritage was not something people were proud of, at least openly.