The Current The literary icon who isn't Indigenous after all
Nov 27, 2025
Drew Hayden Taylor, an Anishnaabe playwright and humorist, along with Kim TallBear, a Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate scholar, delve into the shocking revelation that acclaimed author Thomas King isn't Indigenous. They discuss the impact on Indigenous communities, feelings of betrayal, and why such claims recur. Taylor highlights King's humor and mentorship while arguing his work, though valuable, should be reclassified. TallBear emphasizes the need for stricter verification of Indigenous identities in academia, hinting that more pretendian cases might arise.
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King As Mentor And Cultural Figure
- Drew Hayden Taylor describes Thomas King as a grandfather figure who brought humour into Indigenous writing.
- Taylor says King taught, mentored, and shepherded a generation of Indigenous writers and performers.
Family Lore Drives Unverified Claims
- Drew Hayden Taylor attributes many claims of Indigenous ancestry to family lore accepted without verification.
- He argues people often rely on parental stories rather than checking genealogical evidence.
Identity Can Confer Cultural Cachet
- Taylor says Indigenous identity provided cultural cachet and career opportunities in Canada.
- He acknowledges King likely occupied space that might have gone to credited Indigenous creators.
