Crab Omelette and other Native American dishes
When I worked at the radio station we’d get a call now and then from Sam, a faithful caller who was also an American Indian. He began his calls the same way: “Migwich,” he’d say. If I recall correctly, it meant hello, let’s talk. Mostly he called about local absurdities, but if you wanted to talk about Indian culture, he was up for it. A low-key, kind, and fascinating man, perfect for late-night talk radio. He reminded us of the range of Indian cultures, how crude the “F-Troop” childhood stereotypes really were. Me Chief for many moon! Heap big wampum for braves! It’s like reducing all European languages down to Chaucerian English.
Anyway. The Boston Herald reports:
Elizabeth Warren was touting her claim of Cherokee heritage as early as 1984, according to a cookbook titled “Pow Wow Chow” edited by her cousin that includes Warren’s recipes for a savory crab omelet and spicy barbecued beans.
Warren, who has been under fire for claiming Indian lineage despite a lack of documentation, is identified as “Elizabeth Warren, Cherokee” under each of five recipes she contributed.
At this point that’s like a certain cartoon canine proffering a business card that reads “Wile E. Coyote, Genius.”
One Cherokee tribe genealogist said the cookbook was “Silly,” adding:
“Cherokees don’t even traditionally have powwows.”
Didn’t she get a twinge in the cheekbones when she was asked to contribute to the book? Heck no: she was 1/32nd Indian, which meant a deep soulful affinity for powwows and all that Indian stuff. You suspect Warren once fixed someone in the faculty lounge with a baleful stare and said “Don’t make me go on the warpath over this.” And whoever she was talking to nearly bit through his cheek to keep from laughing.
UPDATE: Elizabeth Warren has now clarified her biography, and says she was born in Kenya.
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Comments:
May '12
Re: Crab Omelette and other Native American dishes
I can't wait to hear the WH spin on this.
I see the agent is already saying it was a "fact-checking error", but we all know how these things are prepared: Dear client, we will be printing a promotional booklet and would like to feature your profile. If there are any changes to the CV we already have on file, please send them to us before the printing deadline... etc.
It's not like they had Wikipedia in 1994 to trip them up.
Sep '10
Re: Crab Omelette and other Native American dishes
I liked F-Troop. I guess I should feel guilty.
Dec '10
Re: Crab Omelette and other Native American dishes
Remember that son of a coal miner Biden?
May '11
Re: Crab Omelette and other Native American dishes
Lenny Bruce used to do a riff on selling eggs by the roadside as a kid and learning that people raved about the superior taste and freshness of the store- bought eggs he sold if he put a little chicken manure on them.
Aug '11
Re: Crab Omelette and other Native American dishes
What I find best is it identifies only five tribes as "civilized". What does that mean for the hundred or so other tribes? How did they decide "civilized"? Ability import crabs from a sea hundreds of miles away to pair with eggs?
Dec '10
Re: Crab Omelette and other Native American dishes
Southern Pessimist
Lenny Bruce used to do a riff on selling eggs by the roadside as a kid and learning that people raved about the superior taste and freshness of the store- bought eggs he sold if he put a little chicken manure on them. · 6 hours ago
Ew, ick! T.M.I!
Apr '11
Re: Crab Omelette and other Native American dishes
Poor Elizabeth....
Had she only had a well developed case of Rosecea to go with those high cheekbones her heritage could never have been questioned.