TAHLEQUAH - The Cherokee Nation issued a statement Monday on Massachusetts Senator Elizabeth Warren's DNA test results.
Sen. Warren released her DNA report in response to President Donald Trump taunting her for her saying she was part Native American.
Sen. Warren released her ancestry report and it stated that "the great majority of (Warren's) identifiable ancestry is European." However, the report adds, "The analysis also identified 5 genetic segments as Native American in origin at high confidence."
This afternoon the Cherokee Nation released a statement that said in part that DNA tests are useless in determining tribal citizenship and people using DNA to connect themselves to Cherokee Nation is inappropriate.
In a tweet, Sen. Warren responded back with:
I won't sit quietly for @realDonaldTrump's racism, so I took a test. But DNA & family history has nothing to do with tribal affiliation or citizenship, which is determined only – only – by Tribal Nations. I respect the distinction, & don't list myself as Native in the Senate. — Elizabeth Warren (@elizabethforma) October 15, 2018
RELATED STORY: Elizabeth Warren releases DNA test with 'strong evidence' of Native American ancestry
You can read the full statement below:
"A DNA test is useless to determine tribal citizenship. Current DNA tests do not even distinguish whether a person's ancestors were indigenous to North or South America. Sovereign tribal nations set their own legal requirements for citizenship, and while DNA tests can be used to determine lineage, such as paternity to an individual, it is not evidence for tribal affiliation. Using a DNA test to lay claim to any connection to the Cherokee Nation or any tribal nation, even vaguely, is inappropriate and wrong. It makes a mockery out of DNA tests and its legitimate uses while also dishonoring legitimate tribal governments and their citizens, whose ancestors are well documented and whose heritage is prove. Senator Warren is undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage." - Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin, Jr.
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Djesus_unchained on October 16th, 2018 at 00:20 UTC »
I’m gonna grab some margarita mix cause this is about to get salty.
Aurion7 on October 16th, 2018 at 00:03 UTC »
In other words, the Cherokee Nation is aware that intermarriage and assimilation exist and really don't want everyone with any DNA link claiming to be Cherokee.
OKbmwEngr on October 15th, 2018 at 23:51 UTC »
Anyone claiming that the Cherokees are doing this out of partisan politics would be extraordinarily ignorant of reality. This is all about not wanting every tom dick and harry to stampede claims. The process for tribal enrollment and the reasons why it is the way it is are well documented.