Wisconsin art leader accused of faking Native American heritage: report

The co-owner of a queer Indigenous artists’ collective in Wisconsin is going through accusations of being white after claiming to carry Native American heritage, in keeping with a report.

Kay LeClaire, who identifies as non-binary, allegedly faked their indigenous heritage and used the entrance to generate income, in keeping with an area outlet.

LeClaire was accused in a web-based discussion board of truly being white after claiming since 2017 they have been of Metis, Oneida, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Cuban and Jewish heritage, Madison 365 reported on Tuesday.

LeClaire, additionally a founding member of the collective and rising chief within the Madison Indigenous arts group, earned artist stipends, a paid residency on the College of Wisconsin, talking gigs, and artwork exhibitions with the assistance of their Native American declare.

However LeClaire, who glided by the Native American title nibiiwakamigkwe, was allegedly uncovered after a hobbyist genealogist posted proof of LeClair’s actual family tree on a web-based discussion board, Madison 365 reported. The web discussion board person, AdvancedSmite, advised Madison 365 that questions on LeClaire’s claims led to some digging.

The person, who didn’t need to reveal their precise id to the outlet, used on-line information and assets to attach LeClaire’s lineage to German, Swedish and French Canadian and posted the findings on a discussion board.

LeClaire didn’t solutions questions when contacted by Madison 365, however as a substitute despatched a protracted assertion. LeClaire reportedly mentioned any culturally associated gadgets they’d are being given again to the group and vowed to not search new grants whereas taking themselves off present grants.

“I’m sorry,” they reportedly wrote. “A number of info has come to my consideration since late December. I’m nonetheless processing all of it and don’t but know reply adequately. What I can do now could be provide change.

“Shifting ahead, my efforts will likely be in the direction of decreasing hurt by following the instructions supplied by Native group members and community-specified proxies. Presently, because of this I’m not utilizing the Ojibwe title given to me and am eradicating myself from all group areas, positions, tasks, and grants and won’t search new ones.”

It’s unclear what that info from December was.

The collective mentioned in an Instagram publish the group and LeClaire parted methods as of Dec. 31, 2022.

“The collective at giige wish to lengthen our gratitude and utmost sympathy to the Indigenous group inside and surrounding Teejop within the wake of the current revelation of the numerous harms dedicated by former co-founder Kay Le Claire,” a part of the publish learn. “Proof has come to mild indicating that Kay Le Claire has made false claims concerning their heritage, their artwork, and their place in the neighborhood.”