Award-Winning Author Thomas King Discovers He Is Not Indigenous After Lifelong Belief
In a stunning revelation, celebrated Canadian-American author thomas King, known for works like indians on Vacation and The Inconvenient Indian, has learned he does not possess Cherokee ancestry, despite believing so for his entire life. The revelation came following an interview with the tribal Alliance Against Frauds (TAAF), a North Carolina-based organization dedicated too investigating false claims of Indigenous heritage.
King, 82, shared his shock with The globe and Mail, stating, “I’m still in shock.” The California-born writer, who has resided in Canada since 1980 while teaching Indigenous studies at the University of Lethbridge, built a distinguished career exploring themes of Indigenous identity and injustice.
He was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2004 for his contributions to storytelling and the portrayal of Indigenous culture, and later promoted to Companion in 2020 for his unflinching examination of the historical injustices faced by Indigenous peoples in North America. This latest progress casts a complex shadow over his life’s work and personal identity.
The revelation unfolded during a November 13 video conference with TAAF director Lianna Costantino, University of British Columbia professor Daniel Heath Justice – an enrolled Cherokee Nation citizen – and a genealogist specializing in ancestral history. The examination centered on King’s paternal lineage,which had long held a family story of Cherokee ancestry thru his grandfather,Elvin Hunt.
However, the genealogist presented conclusive evidence demonstrating no Cherokee or Indigenous ancestry on either the Hunt or King side of the family. King readily accepted the findings. “I didn’t know I didn’t have cherokee on my father’s side of the family until I saw the genealogical evidence,” he
King’s experience is not isolated. Several prominent Canadian figures have faced similar scrutiny regarding their claimed indigenous heritage. In 2017, author Joseph Boyden faced questions about his ancestry following an investigation by the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network, though his heritage remained unconfirmed. Boyden stepped back from his role as a spokesperson for the Indigenous community.
More recently, folk singer Buffy Sainte-Marie was stripped of her Order of Canada and other accolades after a CBC investigation in 2023 revealed she was not a Canadian citizen and raised doubts about her Cree ancestry. Sainte-marie maintained her identity, stating she was “adopted forever” by a Canadian Cree family.filmmaker Michelle Latimer also faced controversy in 2020 over her indigenous heritage, ultimately resigning as director of a CBC series after admitting a mistake in identifying her family’s community.
The situation resonates deeply with King, whose non-fiction work The Inconvenient Indian was adapted into a documentary by Latimer. When asked why Latimer’s experience didn’t prompt him to proactively verify his own ancestry, King stated he doubted the accuracy of DNA tests for Indigenous genealogical markers.
Despite the genealogical evidence, King acknowledged that even if his grandfather, Elvin Hunt, had been Cherokee – a claim the TAAF disputes – an unofficial blood relationship would not have been sufficient to establish Cherokee citizenship. “I was dead in the water,” he said. “I knew that early on.”
Despite the upheaval, King’s current DreadfulWater mystery series, featuring a Cherokee ex-cop, is still slated for publication, with the ninth book, StarBright, planned for release in May 2026. His publisher,HarperCollins Canada,has reaffirmed its support,stating they have proudly published his work for over 30 years.
King admits to having benefited from grants and opportunities afforded to Indigenous artists during his career. He intends to return only the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for arts and culture from 2003, maintaining that his other accolades are based on the merit of his writing.
“The thing I hate the most is to be thought that I’m dishonest,” King emphasized,maintaining he never intentionally deceived anyone. Though, he expressed a bleak outlook for his future, stating, “This pretty much means the end of me. It’s a brutal end, and I expect the worst.”
