Opinion

Column: Elizabeth Warren has credible Cherokee ancestry claim





"Democratic U.S. Senate candidate Elizabeth Warren has no documents to prove her family’s Native American heritage, but I have to give her the benefit of the doubt.

First, she was born in Oklahoma.

Now, if you remember, Oklahoma, back in the days, was known as Indian Territory.

I am sorry for not being politically correct here, but Indian Territory was what Oklahoma was called then, a name derived from the practice of the U.S. government of relocating Native American groups from their homelands to that area of the country.

The Cherokees, one of the major tribes that was relocated from their Southeastern homeland and the tribe Ms. Warren claims is part of her heritage, lost (to starvation and illness) 4,000 of 15,000 tribe members who were forced on a 1,000-mile relocation journey from the Southeast to Oklahoma in 1838. "

Get the Story:
Clive McFarlane: Oklahoma gives cred to Warren (The Worcester Telegram & Gazette 6/4)

More Opinions:
Francie Latour: The Myth of Native American Blood (The Boston Globe 6/1)
Lawrence Sampson: Elizabeth Warren: Cherokee Protest at Democratic Convention is a Waste of Time (Policymic 6/2)

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