Kansas Conservatives Doubt Alleged 'Pretendian' Street Cred

As always, it's important to define terms:

"A pretendian is a person who has falsely claimed Indigenous identity by claiming to be a citizen of a Native American or Indigenous Canadian tribal nation, or to be descended from Native ancestors. The term is a pejorative colloquialism. As a practice, being a pretendian is considered an extreme form of cultural appropriation, especially if that individual then asserts that they can represent, and speak for, communities they do not belong to. It is sometimes also referred to as a form of fraud, ethnic fraud or race shifting."

To be fair . . . The rhetorical tap dancing has been entertaining given that Kansas conservatives aren't typically known for endorsing displays of ethnic pride. 

Meanwhile, the consequences of the faker-y are more important than just social media chest thumping: 

Grants to nonprofit agencies aren’t the only issue, federal contracts are far more profitable, and fake tribes have cashed in there as well.

The LA Times reported in 2019 that two non-federally recognized tribes pulled down federal minority-business contracts worth more than a half billion dollars.

Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com link . . .

Fake Indian tribes bilk millions from taxpayers - The Sentinel

A government audit and Shawnee Chief Ben Barnes say fake Indian tribes bilk millions from taxpayers each year.