Wisconsin artist Kay LeClair has been accused of misrepresenting Native American heritage

The co-owner of a Wisconsin-based Native artist collective is being accused of white supremacy after claiming to have Native American heritage, a report says.

Kay LeClair, who identifies as non-binary, allegedly faked her Indigenous heritage and used the entrance to generate income, based on native media.

Leclerc has been accused in an internet discussion board of truly being white after claiming to be of Métis, Oneida, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Cuban and Jewish heritage since 2017. Madison 365 experiences On Tuesday.

LeClair, additionally a founding member of Madison’s Native Artwork Neighborhood Collective and Rising Chief, has earned artist fellowships, paid residencies on the College of Wisconsin, talking engagements and artwork exhibitions with the assistance of their Native American declare.

However LeClair, who glided by the Native American identify nibiiwakamigkwe, was allegedly uncovered after a hobbyist genealogist posted proof of LeClair’s true ancestry on an internet discussion board, Madison 365 reported. On-line discussion board consumer AdvancedSmite instructed Madison 365 that questions on Leclair’s claims led to some digging.

The consumer, who didn’t need to reveal his actual id, used on-line information and assets to hyperlink LeClaire’s lineage to German, Swedish and French Canadian and posted the findings on a discussion board.

LeClair didn’t reply to questions when contacted by Madison 365, as a substitute sending a prolonged assertion. LeClair reportedly stated that any culturally related objects they personal are returned to the neighborhood and vowed to not search new grants till they retire present grants.

“I am sorry,” they wrote. “Because the finish of December, quite a lot of data has come to my consideration. I am nonetheless processing all of it and do not know the best way to adequately reply but. What I can do now’s recommend a change.

“Shifting ahead, my efforts will likely be centered on minimizing hurt by following the steering supplied by native neighborhood members and community-appointed proxies.” At the moment, which means I’m not utilizing the Ojibwe identify given to me and I’m withdrawing from all neighborhood areas, positions, initiatives and grants and won’t search new ones.”

It’s unclear what occurred to that data given in December.

The collective stated Instagram put up the group and LeClair parted methods as of December 31, 2022.

“The Giige crew wish to categorical our gratitude and deepest sympathy to Teejop and the encompassing indigenous neighborhood following the latest revelations of the numerous damages dedicated by former co-founder Kay Le Claire,” the put up learn partially. “Proof has emerged to point out that Kay Le Claire made false statements about their heritage, their artwork and their standing in the neighborhood.”