UC Berkeley Scholar Apologizes for False Native American Identity

UC Berkeley professor Elizabeth Hoover apologizes for falsely claiming to be Native American her whole life, admitting she is white and acknowledging the harm she caused to Native communities. Hoover, who has published books and articles about Native American food sovereignty, said she never had proper documentation to confirm or dispute her claims of being Native American. Her false claims hurt not only the Native communities she claimed to be a part of but also the students she taught while researching her specializations. A petition demanding her resignation received over 350 signatures last November.