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Moderator Shocked by Lack of Native American Enthusiasm for Warren

'I would expect more excitement from our native citizens'

Elizabeth Warren
Getty Images
August 19, 2019

The moderator at a Native American forum was shocked on Monday after Democratic presidential candidate Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) received very little enthusiasm about her potential election.

Warren participated in the presidential forum on Native American issues in Sioux, City, IA, where she apologized for the "harm" she caused for her past claims of Native American ancestry.

"It's a wonderful day and Native Americans across this country should celebrate. Today we're sharing the stage with a future president perhaps," the moderator said.

There was some applause and one person who appeared to cheer. Warren bowed and shook hands with the moderator before he followed up to address the crowd.

"I would expect more excitement from our native citizens," the moderator said, prompting the crowd to cheer louder.

Warren received scrutiny earlier this year from Native Americans and progressives for releasing her DNA test, a strategy they believed played into the hands of President Donald Trump and Republican allies, the Washington Free Beacon reported.

Cherokee Nation Secretary of State Chuck Hoskin Jr. blasted Warren the day of her DNA revelation, saying such tests are "useless to determine tribal citizenship" and accusing Warren of "undermining tribal interests with her continued claims of tribal heritage."

"Current DNA tests do not even distinguish whether a person's ancestors were indigenous to North or South America," he said. "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."

A descendant of Pocahontas even called Warren out, saying she should apologize for using Native American heritage for political gain.