Fake Indian Claims to be Part Haudenosaunee – Rocks Madison Art Collective

By Kaniehtonkie.

Since at least 2017, Kay LeClaire who has also gone by Nibiiwakamigkwe, is a Pretendian. LeClaire has claimed Métis, Oneida, Anishinaabe, Haudenosaunee, Cuban and Jewish heritage. LeClaire is in reality, a white person of German and Swedish heritage. Provided here is the website that provides the documentation of Kay's true identity, all of which is verifiable: http://www.newagefraud.org/smf/index.php?topic=5635.0

LeClaire was not born and raised in northern Wisconsin, as they told the Cap Times in June 2021, according to the research. They grew up in Sussex, a village outside of Milwaukee, and graduated from Hamilton High School in 2012.

Additionally, she identifies as "two-spirit," a term many Indigenous people use to describe a non-binary gender identity. In addition to becoming a member and co-owner of "giige" – an Indigenous tattoo and art collective located in Madison, WI.

"giige" co-owner Nipinet Landsem told The Cap Times Newspaper, "They got away with this for five years," said. "They figured out how to weasel into the community, they took advantage of everybody's trust, they did it on purpose - and they were good at it."

According to several news outlets, LeClaire earned several artists' stipends, a paid residency at the University of Wisconsin, a place on the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women Task Force and many speaking gigs and art exhibitions, not to mention a platform and trust of a community – all based on an ethnic identity that appears to have been fully fabricated.

LeClaire declined to be interviewed by The Cap Times but provided an apology and statement also given to Madison365, which first reported the story.

"I am sorry. A lot of information has come to my attention since late December," LeClaire said. "I am still processing it all and do not yet know how to respond adequately. What I can do now is offer change."

LeClaire added they will no longer use "the Ojibwe name given to me and am removing myself from all community spaces, positions, projects, and grants and will not seek new ones."

Amid the fallout, giige has parted ways with LeClaire. The staff has removed them from ownership, which they had been trying to do since October for interpersonal problems unrelated to LeClaire's identity. The business is moving on, Landsem said, and will soon have a new name.