What are Pretendians? | NDN POV | TVO Today

What is a Pretendian and how do they harm Indigenous communities?
Pretendians are people who falsely claim to have Indigenous heritage. They have become more of a mainstream Indigenous issue with people like Buffy Sainte-Marie and many others being called out for the practice. Impersonating these communities is not just in bad taste, it's dangerous. In this episode, Riley Yesno, Kim TallBear, and Drew Hayden Taylor provide insight into this pressing issue, offering valuable perspectives on its impact.
For the first time in history, there are benefits from having an indigenous identity. And with this shift, people not apart of these communities are moving from cultural appropriation to identity appropriation to take advantage of these benefits. In the process, they are stealing space and opportunities from Indigenous peoples and taking money from Native advancements. They are playing off the generation trauma and systemic racism faced by native groups to benefit themselves.
Not every Pretendian is trying to harm Indigenous communities. Sometimes people believe they are apart of these groups because of unchecked family lore, wishful thinking, or the pursuit of trying to reduce their colonizer's guilt. But that doesn’t lessen the impact on the people they are pretending to be.
Why do people feel the need to steal Indigenous identity? What is the true harm to Indigenous communities and families? What does it mean to have true Indigenous ancestry?
NDN POV takes a sharp and unflinching look at key and sometimes controversial issues through the eyes of Indigenous leaders in Canada.
0:00 Other Words for Pretendians
0:26 What is a Pretendian?
0:56 The Benefits an Indigenous identity
2:06 Psychological relief from Stealing Indigenous Identity
2:36 Intentions Behinds Falsely Claiming Identity
3:03 Reconnecting with Stolen Heritage
3:27 What is True Indigenous Ancestry?
4:20 How do Pretendians Harm Indigenous Communities?
5:57 Indigenous Protocol: Determine Belonging to Indigenous Nations
6:39 Mainstream Indigenous Issues
7:08 One More Act of Colonialism
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