Native Americans, Progressives Fume at Warren Over DNA Test Release

Native Americans and progressives are fuming at Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) over releasing a DNA test showing she could have distant Cherokee ancestry, with many arguing she had done harm to indigenous peoples by blurring the lines around Native identity.

Warren has long been dogged by controversy over listing herself as Native American while teaching law school in the 1980s and 1990s; Harvard and the University of Pennsylvanialisted her as a minority faculty member. She even contributed to a Native American cookbook called "Pow Wow Chow." President Donald Trump mockingly called her "Pocahontas."

Warren finally released a campaign-style video Monday featuring analysis of her DNA test, interviews with family and former colleagues, and her own narration of her life. She triumphantly tweeted Trump owed her $1 million regarding an offer he made about a hypothetical debate where she could prove she's an Indian.

The results drew mockery: At best, she was 1/64th Native American and possibly as little as 1/1,024th, with an ancestor as far as 10 generations back. It also drew anger from some Democrats, who didn't want to be talking about her DNA with the midterms three weeks away.

Now, she's getting significant blowback from Native American groups who say she has done damage to indigenous people and helped perpetuate myths about what constitutes Native American identity.

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