Joseph Boyden pens essay for Maclean’s on questions about his heritage
TORONTO — Joseph Boyden has penned a lengthy essay for Maclean’s magazine addressing critics who have questioned his claims of Indigenous heritage.
“Being Indigenous isn’t all about DNA. It’s about who you claim, and who claims you,” says the subheadline on the piece, published online Wednesday.
Late last year, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network reporter Jorge Barrera launched an investigation into claims of Indigenous ancestry the Toronto-raised novelist has made throughout his life, and the evidence — or lack thereof — to back it up.
The probe made national headlines and sparked a debate on identity and who has the right to speak on behalf of Indigenous communities.