Andrea Smith’s claims of Cherokee heritage went unchecked by the university for 15 years, until fellow faculty members complained about the controversy.
An ethnic studies professor at UC Riverside whose claims of Cherokee heritage have been in question for 15 years and stirred public outcry has agreed to resign following a complaint by 13 faculty members.
“Investigations of a tenured faculty member for alleged misconduct have potential for litigation and appeals, and can unfold over the course of years,” Warren said.Jacqueline Keeler, a freelance journalist, author, Navajo Nation citizen and a descendant of the Yankton Sioux Tribe, said the world of academia has become a breeding ground for “pretendians,” those who falsely claim indigenous identity for professional, political, and monetary gain.
The university has agreed to compensate Smith up to $5,000 for attorney fees she incurred in resolving the complaint, according to the agreement.Smith, who is not registered as a citizen of the Cherokee Nation, did not respond to email and telephone messages seeking comment. The question surrounding Smith’s alleged ancestral ties to the Cherokee Nation generated interest from a multitude of Native American scholars and activists, who dove deep into her background.David Cornsilk, a retired genealogist, citizen of the Cherokee Nation and a member of the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians, said Smith hired him in the 1990s to research her genealogy on both her mother’s and father’s side. He said he found no trace of Cherokee ancestry in Smith’s bloodline.
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