“Non-Binary” Founder of Indigenous Artists’ Collective Accused of Faking Native American Heritage

Co-owner of a “queer Indigenous artists’ collective” Wisconsin: A woman claimed to have faked her Native American roots. “used the front to make money,” The New York Post reported.

Kay LeClaire, who identifies with “non-binary,” In an online forum, she was accused of being White after she claimed for years that her family was Oneida and Anishinaabe, Haudenosauneese, Haudenosaunee, Cuban, and German. LeClaire was a founding member in an art collective. She is well-known within the Indigenous arts community of Madison, Wisconsin. LeClaire was given the Indigenous name. “Nibiiwakamigkwe,” The Post pointed out.

According to reports, LeClaire was awarded artist stipends. This includes a residency at the University of Wisconsin and speaking gigs. She also had art exhibitions that were based on her Native American heritage. However, there are other reasons. “hobbyist genealogist” who did not reveal their identity posted evidence of LeClaire’s real ancestry on an online forum. It was clear that LeClaire is French Canadian, Swedish and German descent.

“I am sorry,” LeClaire, reportedly, told local outlet Madison365. “A lot of information has come to my attention since late December. I am still processing it all and do not yet know how to respond adequately. What I can do now is offer change.”

“Moving forward, my efforts will be towards reducing harm by following the directions provided by Native community members and community-specified proxies. Currently, this means that I am not using the Ojibwe name given to me and am removing myself from all community spaces, positions, projects, and grants and will not seek new ones,” LeClaire added.

In an Instagram post, the art collective stated that it was ending its relationship with LeClaire Dec. 31, 2022.

“Evidence has come to light indicating that Kay Le Claire has made false claims regarding their heritage, their art, and their position in the community,” The organization stated. “This person has both gone against our inherent values and perpetuated harm within the Teejop community and beyond. Without our knowledge or consent, Kay Le Claire used our position as an Indigenous-led business to inflate their platform and expand their access to an already vulnerable community.”

The anonymous user who published LeClaire’s ancestry online went by the screen name “AdvancedSmite.” Madison365 spoke to them and they revealed that they are Native American.

“I have a skill and I saw something and I did what I could,” They added later that they believed the “pretendian problem is a long term, strategic issue.”

Madison365 was told by Nipinet Landsem that they are Native American tattoo artists in the Madison area. “had suspicions” about LeClaire.

“I was so relieved that someone else had called it out and I didn’t have to. I’ve had my suspicions, but I didn’t have anything confirmed,” Landsem said.

Townhall reported that many high-profile activists were caught pretending to be Native American. This included Senator Elizabeth Warren (D–MA), Carrie Bourassa from Canada, and Sacheen Littlefeather. Her sisters, who came forward last year to confirm that she was Mexican-American. 

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