Cherokee Nation Says Elizabeth Warren Has Apologized For DNA Test
- 5 years ago
The Cherokee Nation confirmed on Friday that Senator Elizabeth Warren called and apologized for the DNA test she took to prove her Native American ancestry.
The Cherokee Nation confirmed on Friday that Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren called and apologized for the DNA test she took to prove her Native American ancestry. "We are encouraged by this dialogue and understanding that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws not through DNA tests," Julie Hubbard, a spokesperson for the tribe, told The Hill. The New York Times reports that the apology was given on Thursday and notes it "is a break from Ms. Warren's previous public stance, where she refused to admit fault." Warren announced in October that she'd undergone DNA testing and the results suggested that she has Native American ancestry "6-10 generations ago." She took that test amid repeated criticism from President Trump, who questioned her claim and took to calling her "Pocahontas." Not only did the DNA results fail to stop Trump, but they also brought condemnation from Native American groups for a variety of reasons, including the oversimplification of what tribal membership requires and means. According to the Washington Post, at a recent event in Iowa, Warren did acknowledge the difference between genetics and personal history, commenting: "I am not a person of color; I am not a citizen of a tribe," she said. "Tribal citizenship is very different from ancestry. Tribes, and only tribes, determine tribal citizenship, and I respect that difference."
The Cherokee Nation confirmed on Friday that Democratic Senator Elizabeth Warren called and apologized for the DNA test she took to prove her Native American ancestry. "We are encouraged by this dialogue and understanding that being a Cherokee Nation tribal citizen is rooted in centuries of culture and laws not through DNA tests," Julie Hubbard, a spokesperson for the tribe, told The Hill. The New York Times reports that the apology was given on Thursday and notes it "is a break from Ms. Warren's previous public stance, where she refused to admit fault." Warren announced in October that she'd undergone DNA testing and the results suggested that she has Native American ancestry "6-10 generations ago." She took that test amid repeated criticism from President Trump, who questioned her claim and took to calling her "Pocahontas." Not only did the DNA results fail to stop Trump, but they also brought condemnation from Native American groups for a variety of reasons, including the oversimplification of what tribal membership requires and means. According to the Washington Post, at a recent event in Iowa, Warren did acknowledge the difference between genetics and personal history, commenting: "I am not a person of color; I am not a citizen of a tribe," she said. "Tribal citizenship is very different from ancestry. Tribes, and only tribes, determine tribal citizenship, and I respect that difference."