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Madison Indigenous arts leader, activist revealed as white [Madison365]

Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
This is one wild ride. I highly recommend reading the entire thing but there are some choice bits below in quotes.
Kay-LeClaire-Side-by-Side-640x376.jpg


Since at least 2017, Kay LeClaire has claimed Métis, Oneida, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Cuban and Jewish heritage. Additionally, they identify as “two-spirit,” a term many Indigenous people use to describe a non-binary gender identity. In addition to becoming a member and co-owner of giige, LeClaire earned several artists’ stipends, a paid residency at the University of Wisconsin, a place on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force and many speaking gigs and art exhibitions, not to mention a platform and trust of a community – all based on an ethnic identity that appears to have been fully fabricated.

“They claimed Métis (heritage)”, said Landsem, who is a member of the Manitoba Métis Federation. “I knew they were not. They didn’t know anything about being Métis. They told me incorrect things a lot. My assumption for the whole like last few years has been … they’re probably a disconnected descendant who has a complex about that. That’s what I assumed because I was giving them the benefit of the doubt.”

“I thought it was interesting how (they) often wore, it wasn’t like full regalia, but (they were) often wearing furs and clearly Indigenous-made clothing and it was almost like flying a flag. ‘Hi, I’m an indigenous woman.’ You don’t see that very often,” Goforth said. “Really, I don’t see that in my circles. I chalked that up to part of (their) role at the UW, bringing the exposure of culture forward, but now I look at it, and it was literally like a costume. It’s just so painful.”

Landsem also noted LeClaire’s frequent tanning, any mention of which Landsem said would bring accusations of colorism from LeClaire. Landsem said LeClaire used their high school senior photo as evidence that LeClaire’s mother forced them to “bleach” their skin and hair.

LeClaire provided a “jingle dress” to an exhibit at Overture Center, where patrons wrote thoughts and prayers onto small circles of fabric, which LeClaire then fashioned into the bells that adorn the traditional Ojibwe garment. However, LeClaire didn’t make the dress; they commissioned it from a person who makes powwow regalia as a “rush order” just before the exhibit opened in September 2021.

The person who made the dress asked not to be identified, but said they didn’t know that LeClaire had represented the dress as LeClaire’s own creation until last week. The maker also said she declined to work with LeClaire on future orders because something seemed “off”.

IMG_8516-e1672726860437.jpeg

LeClaire also purchased birch baskets from a crafter who is not Indigenous, then apparently scratched that person’s name off and replaced it with their own, according to photos provided by Landsem. Landsem said LeClaire gifted some of these baskets to friends; if they sold any, it could be a violation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990.

They noted that the self-identified Native American population grew by 85% between the 2010 and 2020 census, from just over five million to well over nine million.

“That’s not population growth,” they said. “It’s a major issue. The government needs to ask if you are an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.

“You can’t assume … that Kay LeClaire is an isolated incident … the pretendian problem is a long term, strategic issue,” they wrote in a later email to Madison365, adding that people who falsely claim Indigenous heritage are then passing that false claim on to their children, who may unwittingly accept it, perpetuating a falsehood through generations. “It’s a fight for our future and identity.”

And a post-publication correction that is just the icing on the cake:
NOTE: This story has been corrected. Multiple sources told Madison365 that after the Overture Center exhibit, LeClaire donated the dress to the Helen Louise Allen Textile Collection at the UW School of Human Ecology. SOHE told us in an email Wednesday that isn’t the case.
 
This is not the first time I read of a white woman (it always seems to be white women doing this) getting caught pretending to be Native and it probably won't be the last.
The guilt that comes with being one of the most privileged people to have ever existed. Not that they should feel guilty at all.
 
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StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
There is an epidemic of these fakers. Reading about this Grey’s Anatomy writer who faked cancer made my skin crawl.

Dont know who this is, but I bookmarked it so I'll read this another time as it looks like a long article. Briefly skimming the article, one paragraph said something like.... "modern day grifter".

Cant wait. Sound like the article will be one part cringe, one part stupidity and one part laughs.
 

Winter John

Member
“I thought it was interesting how (they) often wore, it wasn’t like full regalia, but (they were) often wearing furs and clearly Indigenous-made clothing"

Well there's the giveaway right there. The dumb bitch was running around in furs and beads. Natives don't wear that stuff. Hell, the last time I was over at the local reservation I saw a kid selling fake Ray Bans
 

IDKFA

I am Become Bilbo Baggins
They noted that the self-identified Native American population grew by 85% between the 2010 and 2020 census, from just over five million to well over nine million.

“That’s not population growth,” they said. “It’s a major issue. The government needs to ask if you are an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.


That many people trying to pass off as another race? Why?
 
They noted that the self-identified Native American population grew by 85% between the 2010 and 2020 census, from just over five million to well over nine million.

“That’s not population growth,” they said. “It’s a major issue. The government needs to ask if you are an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.


That many people trying to pass off as another race? Why?
Power.
 

MudoSkills

Volcano High Alumnus (Cum Laude)
That many people trying to pass off as another race? Why?
I heard someone describe it as America being a nation based on ideas rather than geography, which is why there's generally a lot of interest in cultural heritage. I'm not surprised people will claim indigenous heritage to try and establish another 'connection' to America as a place.

It's the same thing as people who are from 3rd/4th generation immigrant families describing themselves as Italian, German, Irish etc. You're not, you're (insert country)-American, get over it.
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
That many people trying to pass off as another race? Why?
Maybe in the digital age, faking you're Native is easy to do and leads to government perks and payouts. And the gov is too lazy or dumb to clamp down on it. And if they decline you, who cares nothing lost.

My dad was an expert doing tax forms and telling me and my siblings what to fill out. And this started before the internet age where forms are easy to find and do online. Back then (the paper booklet days), I dont know how my dad would even know this stuff but he'd tell us to submit certain forms for rebates and deductions which would never come with the standard booklet.

One of his tips was to always check Yes for the GST or HST rebate box when doing tax returns. I forget if they even have that box anymore but I know way back you'd have to check it off if you want to apply. My dad knew you'd only get it if you make a low amount of money, but his tip was check it off every time no matter what because you never know if they might give you a couple hundred bucks back by mistake. If the decline you who cares.
 
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Maiden Voyage

Gold™ Member
They noted that the self-identified Native American population grew by 85% between the 2010 and 2020 census, from just over five million to well over nine million.

“That’s not population growth,” they said. “It’s a major issue. The government needs to ask if you are an enrolled member of a federally recognized tribe.


That many people trying to pass off as another race? Why?
Woke points. Self importance. Anything to stand out and get attention I imagine.
 

kruis

Exposing the sinister cartel of retailers who allow companies to pay for advertising space.
Who could ever foresee that in a woke world where competing in the oppression olympics has become a major part of someone's identity, that white heterosexual women start suffering from FOMO and do crazy things to make their boring old selves more interesting?
 

StreetsofBeige

Gold Member
Who could ever foresee that in a woke world where competing in the oppression olympics has become a major part of someone's identity, that white heterosexual women start suffering from FOMO and do crazy things to make their boring old selves more interesting?
Crazy since the pic of her on the left she's kind of good looking. It's not like she's some fugly chick who needs to grift or whore themselves out for attention. Just get a decent job for the career/money part, and surely she could find a good looking guy for the relationship part. Brush off the hands and there's your happy life till the day you die.
 

DeafTourette

Perpetually Offended
When being white is now bad and being Native American gives you oppression points, this is a natural side affect of that. It will get worse.

I don't think it's that (being white is bad)...

I think she seriously has identity issues or lack of a sense of heritage. You'd be surprised at how many people fake their ethnicity... There is a whole thing of white women/girls purposely making themselves look black or Latina
 

DeafTourette

Perpetually Offended
If she identifies as indigenous then she’s indigenous, it’d be a hate crime, worse than physical violence itself to say otherwise.

I think the only way that works is if these biracial or mixed... And she isn't. I can't identify as white (I'm black) ... It doesn't work that way (yes, I know you're being facetious LoL).
 

kruis

Exposing the sinister cartel of retailers who allow companies to pay for advertising space.

Article has more pictures of LeClaire.

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And here's info about her "authentic" indian tattoo shop.

 
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Jsisto

Member
Just read this, fucking crazy. Here’s a woman that seems to have a had a loving family, and nothing to gain from this. There’s no way any of this could have been significantly lucrative for her, and seems to be mostly activist type stuff. This is clearly someone that is not well mentally. I almost feel bad for her, knowing how merciless the hate mobs can be.
 

Cyberpunkd

Member
Since at least 2017, Kay LeClaire has claimed Métis, Oneida, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Cuban and Jewish heritage. Additionally, they identify as “two-spirit,” a term many Indigenous people use to describe a non-binary gender identity.
Why is there a singular pronoun being used for “has claimed” in the first sentence, but the second sentence switches to “they”?

Confused So Many Questions GIF by CBS
 

Cyberpunkd

Member
I think the only way that works is if these biracial or mixed... And she isn't. I can't identify as white (I'm black) ... It doesn't work that way (yes, I know you're being facetious LoL).
Of course you can, look at all they white teenage bois being gangsta, what is this if not black appropriation?
 
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