Thomas King Reveals He Is Not Indigenous After Genealogical Investigation
So, here’s something that’s been shaking the literary world recently. Thomas King, the celebrated author known for his books on Indigenous history and culture, has revealed that he is not, in fact, Indigenous. For decades, King believed he was part Cherokee, a belief that shaped both his personal identity and professional career. But after a thorough genealogical investigation, the truth came out—and it’s left him grappling with some very complicated feelings.
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Despite all of this involvement, rumors occasionally surfaced questioning his Native identity. They never fully went away, and this year, King decided to confront them head-on. He reached out to the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds, an American Cherokee organization, to get answers. A careful review of his family history was conducted by TAAF’s director, Lianna Costantino, a Cherokee scholar, and a genealogist. The result was clear and undeniable: there was no documented connection to the Cherokee Nation on either his King or Hunt family lines.
The revelation has been devastating for King. In his own words, he feels “ripped in half, a one-legged man in a two-legged story.” He reflects on his life, acknowledging that he benefitted in various ways from being perceived as Native, from educational and career opportunities to access in publishing and media. But he is also firm in saying that he never knowingly misrepresented his heritage. King’s lifelong belief in his Indigenous identity was genuine, even if it turns out to be based on a misconception.
Looking ahead, King faces difficult questions about his work, his legacy, and how he will navigate public perception. Will he continue to write about Native experiences as a non-Indigenous author, like Tony Hillerman or Dee Brown did, or step back entirely? He also anticipates the inevitable backlash—the anger, disbelief, and media simplification of a complex personal and cultural matter.
At the heart of this story is a man reckoning with his identity, the weight of heritage, and the impact of ancestry on life and career. Thomas King’s experience is a reminder of how deeply intertwined identity and perception can be, and how discovering an inconvenient truth can reshape everything we think we know about ourselves.
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