Virtually everyone I talked to -- tribal chiefs, Native politicians, policymakers, advocates, writers -- said they saw nothing wrong with Warren looking into her ancestry. You would never know this from the way mainstream media has covered this.https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-dna-test-native-american_us_5c19550fe4b0432554c512bb …
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Here's Richard Sneed, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Is he mad at Warren for taking a DNA test to understand her ancestry? Not. At all.pic.twitter.com/Noxg6ToGFa
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Here's Dennis Coker, the principal chief of Delaware’s Lenape Indian Tribe. Does he think Warren has blown her support with tribes because of her DNA test? Nope.pic.twitter.com/0klJ7k7Kek
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So where is this idea coming from that tribes are furious with Warren? An unelected official at Cherokee Nation issued a scathing statement about her DNA test. Multiple ppl told me he was only speaking for himself. His statement is no longer online.https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-dna-test-native-american_us_5c19550fe4b0432554c512bb …
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Is there legitimate anger at Warren for inflaming complicated issues around Native identity + tribal citizenship vs ancestry, even if unintentional? Yes. Is Indian Country collectively outraged at Warren over this and focused on it? Absolutely not.https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-dna-test-native-american_us_5c19550fe4b0432554c512bb …
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Is Warren's DNA test really an issue on the minds of tribal leaders? No. They've got their hands full with serious problems that don't get nearly as much attention.pic.twitter.com/9dV1yjkJHU
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Nearly everyone I talked to lamented that what is happening here is Warren’s personal journey of self-discovery is being being weaponized against Native identity and Native people. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-dna-test-native-american_us_5c19550fe4b0432554c512bb …pic.twitter.com/aPCgQc2KKe
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And some Native ppl wondered why Native critics of Warren -- who has been an ally to tribes -- aren't channeling their anger at Trump, whose bullying of Warren and awful treatment of tribes is the core problem. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-dna-test-native-american_us_5c19550fe4b0432554c512bb …pic.twitter.com/S9vA5Ovva3
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All of this is happening in the context of Native ppl being practically invisible in popular culture.
@CrystalEchoHawk led a big research project on Americans' perceptions of Native ppl. Her findings: most of what they know comes from toxic stereotypes perpetuated by the media.Show this thread -
If Echo Hawk's research is correct that most Americans know little to nothing about Native ppl and what they do know comes from toxic stereotypes perpetuated by the media, then this is what people are currently seeing in the media. https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-dna-test-native-american_us_5c19550fe4b0432554c512bb …pic.twitter.com/V3ZvIc1S79
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Anyway, read the piece and consider what this mix of Native people has to say about Warren's DNA test. There's a diversity of Native voices out there and it certainly feels like this perspective isn't getting much attention in the media.https://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/elizabeth-warren-dna-test-native-american_us_5c19550fe4b0432554c512bb …
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This is an interesting take, given that there was a substantial amount of reporting around how Native people felt about Warren's genetic testing.https://theintercept.com/2018/02/16/native-american-activist-critical-of-elizabeth-warren-says-her-speech-was-a-step-in-the-right-direction/ …
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There's a diversity of opinions out there. And there is anger. The problem is only a handful of Warren critics are being featured in the news. Based on my reporting, this is not a pressing issue in Indian Country. At all.
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I see your point about the media emphasizing one "side." I would like to have seen you link the point made by those opposing her actions. Maybe a Twitter thread link?
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There are links to some of Warren's critics in the piece.
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Framed as outlier opinions that don't really matter.
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Because she is showing that they are outliers.
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Is she? Because what I see is another white journalist cherrypicking Native views to advance her own.
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And who are you? You have an anonymous icon, at least she is putting her research out there under her own name. Notice the other critics in this thread also have anonymous icons.
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This piece suggests only tribal leaders opinions matter. I guess community members' and Native scholars' voices don't count.
@rebeccanagle@NativeApprops@jfkeeler@malindalowery@Doug_Kiel@JeaniOBrien@BettyRbl@pollysgdaughter@nick_w_estes@DavidCornsilk -
I agree it’s a limited survey (a dozen? C’mon) but the piece define cites community members and scholars (e.g.
@RuthHHopkins &@CrystalEchoHawk ) -
But the author excluded Cherokee *people* from the limited survey--a group Warren has explicitly claimed links to.
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She claimed links through family tree. She took a DNA test. It shows an ancestor. She explicitly said she *knows* it doesn’t tie her to a tribe.
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It doesn’t show a Cherokee ancestor. Please read.
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I *know*
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No disrespect intended 2 Native colleagues opposed to Warren & what she did but there’s a large # in NDN Country who are not outraged or have forgiven her. She made a huge mistake but she NEVER claimed citizenship. These voices havnt been included in a balanced way until now.
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NDN Country isnt monolithic in its views. Theres diversity of opinion on this issue. We need to reclaim this conversation ¬ be used as political fodder. I support Native journalists but I also support non-Native journalists + allies who elevate & include diverse Native voices
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Tips: jen.bendery@huffpost.com