Investigation: Thomas King exposed as not Indigenous

Canadian author Thomas King says he is not Indigenous, following a genealogical investigation that found no evidence of the Cherokee ancestry he believed he had throughout his life and career.

Source: Rawpixel

Canadian author Thomas King says he is not Indigenous, following a genealogical investigation that found no evidence of the Cherokee ancestry he believed he had throughout his life and career.

In a Globe and Mail essay titled “A most inconvenient Indian,” King wrote that a review conducted by the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds, with support from a University of British Columbia scholar, concluded that “no Cherokee on the King side. No Cherokee on the Hunt side. No Indians anywhere to be found.”

King, 82, has long been regarded as one of Canada’s most prominent Indigenous writers. His works, including “The Truth About Stories” and “The Inconvenient Indian,” have been widely taught, awarded and cited in discussions of Indigenous issues.

He served as a professor of Indigenous studies, participated in Indigenous activism, and was promoted to companion of the Order of Canada in 2020 for work described as exposing “hard truths” about the injustices faced by Indigenous Peoples.

King wrote that he now accepts he is not Indigenous.

“At 82, I feel as though I’ve been ripped in half … Not the Indian I had in mind. Not an Indian at all,” he said.

He added that he did not knowingly misrepresent himself, attributing his belief to family stories passed down by his mother.

The revelation adds to a growing list of identity controversies involving prominent Canadians.

In November 2024, former employment minister Randy Boissonnault resigned from cabinet after questions emerged about shifting statements regarding his ancestry and the business practices of a company he once co-owned. Boissonnault later told a House of Commons committee, “I am not Indigenous,” and announced he would not seek re-election.

King wrote that he expects scrutiny over whether being perceived as Indigenous influenced his career, but denied intentionally misrepresenting himself.

“The answer … is a simple, hard, no,” he wrote.