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Friday, May 25, 2012 7:19 PM UTC

What’s an American Indian? Warren case stirs query

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Topics: From the Wires,

What, exactly, makes someone American Indian? Even Indians themselves don’t agree.

The question arises because Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren’s disputed claim of Native American identity is spotlighting the subjective nature of Indian heritage.

Warren, a Democrat running in Massachusetts against Republican incumbent Sen. Scott Brown, says her “family lore” describes Indian ancestors. Her opponents say she has no proof.

David Eugene Wilkins, a member of the Lumbee tribe and a professor of American Indian studies, says Warren is not Indian because she has no connection to any tribe or Indian community.

But David Treuer (Troy’-er), an Ojibwe writer, says you can have an Indian identity without knowing your actual Indian ancestors. His recent essay in the Washington Post was titled, “Elizabeth Warren says she’s Native American. So she is.”

Jesse Washington

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Gripping photos: The people of the Turkey protests (slideshow)

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  • The protests take on a festive element as police forces move out of the park and square. Wearing a gas mask, this young man dances to traditional Turkish music in front of Taksim Square’s Ataturk Monument.

  • In Gezi Park since March 31st, this protester, originally caught off-guard by the Government’s teargas and water cannons, went out and bought a Russian army mask from WWII, preparing for what was to come.

  • This rambunctious boy seems to be enjoying the chaos. After taking this picture he threw a stone at the already destroyed building in the background.

  • Forming a line, the police face off directly with protesters in Taksim Square. After a while, they retreated and there was a general cheer – a back-and-forth dance that has been common since the beginning of this protest.

  • An elderly woman in Gezi Park reads the news. The tent community occupying the park was violently destroyed on June 16th.

  • Many different groups had set up booths to promote their cause in Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Standing in front of one, this man waves his flag while posing with conviction.

  • Many home-remedies are used to minimize the effects of tear gas. This woman has put a milky solution on her face, removing her mask after the tear gas dissipated. Before sunrise, the police came again for another round of teargasing.

  • People capitalize on the uprising -- selling flags, beer, gas masks, sky lanterns and spray paint to name just a few of the popular items.

  • On Monday morning, June 11, the police execute a strong offensive. Many plain-clothed police officers, like the ones seen here, clash with protesters in the side streets away from the main stand-off in Taksim.

  • The authorities seem to be most aggressive in the night, pushing protesters away from the square and park. After being teargassed this young woman catches her breath with other protesters on Siraselviler Street.

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