Elizabeth Warren, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Massachusetts, defended her decision to identify herself as Native American in the 1980s and 1990s.

Warren, who grew up in Oklahoma, was told all of her life about her Cherokee and Delaware ancestors. “Being Native American has been part of my story, I guess, since the day I was born," she told reporters, according to news accounts.

Warren listed herself as Native American in a directory of law professors in hopes of meeting other Native Americans. But she said she stopped "checking it off" after finding it didn't lead to any connections.

Get the Story:
Warren Says She’s Proud of Being American Indian (The New York Times 5/2)
Warren: I used minority listing to share heritage (The Boston Herald 5/3)

Related Stories:
Opinion: Is candidate Elizabeth Warren a Native American? (5/2)
Senate candidate in Massachusetts has a Cherokee ancestor (5/1)
Column: Democratic candidate accused of being a fake Indian (4/30)