Ethnic Fraud: Box-checkers in higher education

Tuesday, January 23, 2007  

"For American Indian scholars, securing a job in higher education can sometimes be as simple as checking a box. Most of the country's colleges and universities do not require proof of tribal enrollment from faculty or staff who identify themselves as American Indians. Students looking to receive financial aid, however, must submit proof that they are members of federally recognized tribes. The question of American Indian identity can be an incendiary one. What does it mean to be an American Indian? Who are the 'real' Indians? How are they identified?

A recent surge of interest in personal genealogy has made the already complicated question even more troublesome. Many families hand down tales of American Indian ancestry, and the Internet is making it easier for average Americans to discover the truth for themselves. In the 2005 New York Times column, 'The Newest Indians,' Jack Hitt suggests that the sudden spike in citizens claiming tribal heritage is a symptom of 'ethnic shopping.' The term refers to individuals who wish to change identities and simply don new ethnicities that are more personally comfortable or interesting. But why are American Indians so often the ethnicity of choice among ethnic shoppers?

Dr. Venida S. Chenault, a member of the Prairie Band Pottawatomie and vice provost of Haskell Indian College, speculates that American Indian culture may be so attractive because it has been romanticized by mainstream American culture. 'We are pretty cool people,' she adds with a laugh.

Despite claiming American Indian heritage, some people refuse to formally enroll in a tribe, arguing that the process is the federal government’s method of nforcing control over Native peoples. Enrollment requirements can differ widely among tribes. Some require would-be members to trace their lineage to the 19th century land allotment lists, for example. The various enrollment requirements are often a hurdle that ethnic shoppers are unable to clear. Says Dr. Grayson Noley, (Choctaw), department chair of the College of Education at the University of Oklahoma, 'If you have to search for proof of your heritage, it probably isn't there.'"

Get the Story:
Ethnic Fraud? (Diverse: Issues in Higher Education 1/25)

Related Stories:
Churchill files suit to stop dismissal from CU (11/01)
Ward Churchill appeals CU decision to fire him (07/06)
Professor: Lessons from the Ward Churchill inquiry (6/30)
Ward Churchill responds to decision to fire him (6/28)
University of Colorado set to fire Ward Churchill (6/27)
Editorial: Ward Churchill given walking papers (6/27)
Editorial: Churchill in denial over his misconduct (6/15)
Panel calls for firing of professor Churchill (6/14)
Churchill ready to file lawsuit when he is fired (05/18)
Column: Churchill a nobody until 'witch hunt' (05/18)
Panel recommends firing or suspension of Churchill (5/17)
Ojibwe author upset about photo in Churchill book (5/16)
Ward Churchill threatens university with lawsuit (5/10)
Report on Ward Churchill to be made public next week (5/9)
Blogger draws interest for postings on Churchill (12/05)
Churchill denies making Holocaust remark (10/28)
New committee to be named in Churchill investigation (09/13)
University to proceed with Churchill investigation (9/12)
Panel drops three allegations in probe of Churchill (9/7)
Churchill calls for halt in university investigation (9/2)
Lawyer says Churchill cleared of some charges (08/23)
Commentary: Ward Churchill's students rate him poorly (08/05)
Editorial: Why can't school get rid of Ward Churchill? (07/01)
Paper can't find any Indian ancestors of Churchill (06/09)
Paper says Churchill mischaracterized laws (6/8)
Paper says Churchill plagiarized another work (6/7)
Paper does its own investigation of Churchill (6/6)
Students name Churchill their favorite professor (5/27)
Churchill says school already looked into heritage (5/25)
UKB responds to Churchill's response to statement (5/20)
United Keetowah Band refutes Churchill membership (5/18)
Churchill claims membership in United Keetowah Band (5/17)
Churchill's lawyer blasts probe into Indian heritage (04/05)
Giuliani criticizes Churchill for 9-11 essay (4/4)
Churchill promises lawsuits over fraud allegations (3/31)
Churchill blasts investigation into alleged fraud (3/29)
Editorial: Churchill buyout better than CU review (3/29)
Churchill's Indian claim, alleged fraud to undergo review (3/25)
Churchill Controversy: More opinions and views (3/25)
Report: Churchill, CU reach buyout agreement (3/11)
California school considered Churchil best for job (3/10)
Buyout offer in the works for controversial Churchill (3/9)
Editorial: It's time for Churchill to offer resignation (3/8)
Churchill scandal blamed for CU president's resignation (3/8)
Column: Churchill a nobody until 9/11 'scam' (03/02)
CU faculty oppose investigation of Ward Churchill (2/28)
Opinion: Papers quick to gossip about Churchill (2/28)
Bad Eagle: Ward Churchill despises Indian blood (2/28)
Churchill print nearly the same as another artist's (2/25)
Paper to retract Churchill quote of 'not' being Indian (2/24)
Ward Churchill on being an Indian: 'I am not' (2/23)
Professor says Churchill hired because he was 'Indian' (2/18)
Churchill tells Suzan Shown Harjo: Kiss my --- (2/17)
University of Oregon cancels Churchill appearance (2/16)
Column: Churchill shows contempt for standards (2/16)
Jodi Rave: Churchill changed story on heritage (2/14)
Paper turns to Ancestry.Com to research Churchill (2/14)
Suzan Shown Harjo: Churchill went 'tribe-shopping' (2/11)
Churchill to speak for school's Native Pride Week (2/11)
Churchill Controversy: More opinions and views (2/11)
Colorado governor still wants Churchill fired (2/10)
Churchill speaks to large crowd at CU campus (2/9)
School calls off Churchill's on-campus speech (2/8)
Column: Churchill guilty of academic fraud (2/8)
Jodi Rave: Real problem with Churchill is identity (2/7)
Yellow Bird: Churchills make lost Indians look bad (2/7)
Churchill Controversy: More opinions and views (2/7)
Marty Two Bulls Cartoon: Ward Churchill's Indian Kit (2/7)
UKB: Professor never proved Cherokee heritage (2/4)
Column: Churchill asked why we were attacked (2/4)
Professor angry at Jodi Rave for questioning heritage (2/3)
Speech featuring controversial professor canceled (2/2)
College professor quits post over 9/11-Nazi essay (2/1)
College professor faces action for 9/11-Nazi essay (1/31)
Professor sparks controversy with 9/11-Nazi link (1/28)