Author Thomas King's Cherokee Roots Disproven

Prominent author Thomas King recently discovered that a genealogist found no evidence of Cherokee ancestry in his family's lineage. This news comes after years of rumors circulating in both artistic and Indigenous communities questioning his heritage. King, who has long identified with his claimed Cherokee roots, expressed deep personal impact from this finding.

Meeting with the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds, a group focused on exposing identity fraud, provided King with the genealogist's findings. He stated that he genuinely believed in his ancestry throughout his career as an activist, academic, and writer. King emphasized that while he doesn't consider his past actions a misdeed, withholding this new information could warrant accusations of fraud.

In light of this discovery, King plans to return the National Aboriginal Achievement award received in 2003. He distinguished this from other honors, which he believes are based on his literary achievements rather than his ethnicity. King's situation echoes recent similar cases where public figures' Indigenous claims have been challenged.