re: #717 JHW

Yes I know. Maybe I being a little smart alec. It’s an inside joke among Indian people about Caucasians claiming to be part Indian or having Indian ancestors. When they hear it ,it’s “Let me guess, you’re part Cherokee, right”?
Invariably, when Caucasians claim Indian ancestors, it’s Cherokee. I had a lot of links on this for quite a while, and the Nation itself is very irritated about it, so much so that they demand genealogical proof from the rolls, especially from some minor celebrities and such. The Ward Churchill affair really irritated them. Such people are derisively known as wannabes, and are constantly mocked by Natives.

No, I do get that part. :) It’s just complicated by the fact that there are an awful lot of people with a tad of Cherokee out there.

But the unhealthy fascination with access to authenticity through NA culture is—well—unhealthy. And must be irritating as hell. I get a little of it with celebrities who discover Jewish grandpas.