- Details
- By Native News Online Staff
Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker has made many exaggerated claims throughout the 2022 election cycle—from his statement that “too much money is going to trees” to his false claims that he was a high school valedictorian and that he “spent time at Quantico at the FBI training school.”
One of his latest claims, though, is sure to raise a few eyebrows in Indian Country.
At a September campaign rally in the town of Forsyth, Georgia, the former college and NFL football player was caught on tape making the claim that his grandmother “was full-blood Cherokee.”
“So, I’m Native American,” Walker said.
This isn’t the first time Walker has claimed Native American ancestry, according to a story published by HuffPost. At a January campaign event at the University of Georgia, Walker said he had just found out that his mother is “40% Native American.”
Walker continued to make claims about his alleged Native heritage at campaign stops in May and June, according to the HuffPost report. But he hasn’t offered any evidence to support his claims of Cherokee ancestors, even as his mother disputed Walker's claims of Cherokee blood.
HuffPost said it reached out to all three of the federally recognized Cherokee tribes in the U.S. ― Cherokee Nation, the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians and the United Keetoowah Band of Cherokee Indians ― to see if they had any records that could validate Walker’s claims.
Two of the tribes did not respond, but a spokesperson for Cherokee Nation said the Tribe had no record of Walker in its database of citizens.
Walker’s campaign did not respond to a HuffPost request for comment about his claims of being part Cherokee or to a request for evidence that his grandmother was full-blooded Cherokee.
Walker, who is endorsed by former President Donald Trump, faces incumbent Sen. Raphael G. Warnock, a Democrat, in the November election.
Watch the video of Walker claiming to be Native American:
More Stories Like This
Native News Weekly (August 25, 2024): D.C. BriefsUS Presidents in Their Own Words Concerning American Indians
Native News Weekly (August 4, 2024): D.C. Briefs
Catholic Church has New Pope: Leo XIV
Tribes, Lawmakers Unite at California State Capitol to Honor MMIP
Can we take a minute to talk about tribal sovereignty?
Our mission draws from the warrior spirit that has sustained Indigenous peoples for generations — the same spirit that drives us to stand guard over tribal rights through relentless investigation and fearless reporting.
Sovereignty isn't just a concept – it's the foundation of Native nations' right to govern, protect our lands, and preserve our cultures. Every story we publish strengthens tribal sovereignty.
Unlike mainstream media, we center Indigenous voices and report directly from Native communities. When we cover land rights, water protection, or tribal governance, we're not just sharing news – we're documenting our living history and defending our future.
Our journalism is powered by readers, not shareholders. If you believe in the importance of Native-led media in protecting tribal sovereignty, consider supporting our work today.
