After the recent furor over the use of the terms Lieawtha and Pocohonky to refer to Elizabeth Warren, I sent an email to the Group of Cherokee Indians who run the "Cherokees Demand Truth site.
I told her of the controversy surrounding the use of the terms Lieawatha and Pocohonky to refer to Warren. I also linked the threads where Warren was discussed and asked them to review the threads and provide feedback as to whether her as an American Indian (I used the term Native American in my email and was informed that she preferred the term American Indian). The spokeswoman for the group was kind enough to reply.
Since a number of people here believe that I an a liar, Patters has a copy of the exchange (on my personal email account of course), and can verify it occurred.
These are the threads she reviewed:
http://<br />
http://www.patsfans.co...lieawatha.html
http://<br />
http://www.patsfans.co...m-account.html
http://<br />
http://www.patsfans.co...pocohonky.html
http://<br />
http://www.patsfans.co...lieawatha.html
She felt that this sort of thing (using the terms Lieawatha & Pocohonky) was a double edged sword.
She does not feel the names used are not insulting to Cherokees but insulting to the "honorable Natives" in insulting Warren. She is frustrated by the media feeding stereotypes of American Indians.
In reviewing the threads I linked she felt that E Warren was being made fun of, NOT American Indians by the posters using the terms (Lieawtha & Pocohonky).
The other side of the sword is what disturbed her as an American Indian. That is Warren supporters even bringing this up at all.
She was bothered that Warren supporters didn't realize it is insulting to the Cherokee for Warren to cling to her false claim of Cherokee ancestry. If she told the truth she would end the use of nicknames and stereotypes. She doesn't "necessarily like" being made by her opponents but Warren is the root of the problem, absent Warren's lie about her ancestry thee terms wouldn't be used.
The Cherokee are highly insulted by Warren using their ancestry for HER personal gain and would like the emphasis there.
She found it very insulting that people would support Warren after her fraud had been exposed by this group of Cherokee. The fact that people would believe her after she used Cherokee's as a "stepping stone" was "HIGHLY insulting as if we and our feelings really don't matter".
She says that one of the few thing American Indians have left is their identity and that MS Warren is trying to steal that. She doesn't understand how the Warren supporters overlooking that and instead being offended by a nickname and picture doesn't make sense to her.
She sent this link where the Cherokee group debunks Warren;s story"
Cherokees Demand Truth from Elizabeth Warren: Debunking Elizaeth Warren's Family Myth
A couple of takeaways from her email.
To the Warren opponents, focus on Warren and avoid the nicknames, they appreciate your support is opposing Warren's lie and attempt to steal the Cherokee ancestry. They do understand there is no intent to insult American Indians.
To the Warren supporters stop insulting Indians by supporting Warren's lie and focusing on the wrongs things that is nicknames and pictures rather than the theft of the Cherokees identity by Warren.
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Ms Warren and Racism
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