Ellen Guttillo Whitehouse: I was duped by Andrea Smith too

Andrea Smith and her sister, Justine Smith are NOT Cherokee. I first met Andrea and Justine Smith in Chicago, circa 1992. The two of them had infiltrated the Chicago American Indian Center and fooled a great number of Native folks, myself and my family included. In retrospect, the two of them were very snake-like in their dealings with Chicago Native folks. The two of them always clung to one another and were very secretive about themselves and their family. The two of them claimed their Cherokee blood through their estranged mother, who at that time allegedly resided in California. Shrouded in the veil of activism for Native people, the Smith sisters found an “in” to the various tribal nations represented within the Chicago American Indian Center.

I will admit that I was blinded by the strong sense of activism promoted by Andrea and Justine Smith. Heck, they started a Chicago chapter of Women of All Red Nations (WARN). Goodness, they invited notable Native folks to WARN events. I remember standing with them protesting the Chicago Columbus Day Parade in 1992. I recall being spat on while trying to educate frenzied fans about Chief Illiniwek at the University of Illinois. Who could forget sitting down to dinner with the Smith sisters and Ward Churchill in 1992 and him being insulted when I asked him his views on the Cherokee Nation administration? (Who knew I was breaking bread with a group of wannabes who had all denounced all other wannabes?) It hurts my heart and spirit knowing I was duped by the Smith sisters. I had invited them into my home, into my life, even held Justine’s baby in my arms, and genuinely wished the best for them at that time back in the 1990’s.

Hindsight is 20/20 and I could kick myself for not doing the following: WHY didn’t I ask them for proof of their CDIB card? WHY didn’t I ask them for proof of their blue Cherokee Tribal Membership card? WHY didn’t I dig deeper to validate their claims of Cherokee identity? WHY didn’t I question them about familial and tribal connections?