Woman being sued for calling four others ‘pretendians’ says she’s protecting identity

First Nations Activist Faces Lawsuit Over “Pretendian” Comments

A legal battle is brewing as a First Nations woman, Michelle Christine Cameron, also known as Crystal Semaganis, finds herself at the center of a lawsuit filed by four women who claim she defamed them by calling them “pretendians.” The plaintiffs are seeking over $500,000 in damages and public retractions for the comments made by Semaganis.

Semaganis, who leads the Ghost Warrior Society, defends her actions by stating that she conducts research to protect spaces designated for Indigenous communities. She argues that individuals pretending to be Indigenous can cause harm to these communities and nations.

The lawsuit, filed in the Supreme Court of Yukon, alleges that Semaganis conducted research into the backgrounds of Amanda Buffalo, Krista Reid, Amaris Manderschied, and Louise Darroch, concluding that they are of Ukrainian heritage rather than Indigenous. The plaintiffs claim that Semaganis engaged in a “relentless” social media campaign against them based on this information.

According to Tina Yang, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, the research conducted by Semaganis is deemed “insufficient” and “improper.”

The court documents accuse Semaganis of labeling the women as “‘grifters,’ liars, and racists who exploit their falsely claimed Indigenous heritage for personal gain.”

Challenging Claims of Indigenous Heritage

The lawsuit reveals that Louise Darroch was adopted by a non-Indigenous couple and later discovered her Indigenous ancestry. Semaganis allegedly reached out to Amanda Buffalo for information about her heritage, leading to a chain of events where the plaintiffs were informed by Semaganis that they are of Ukrainian descent.

The women claim that Semaganis’s actions have caused them “significant harms to personal and professional reputations, serious psychological harms, loss of income, loss of academic opportunities, and loss of business opportunities.”

While Semaganis stands by her research, stating that she only investigates after receiving public complaints, the authenticity of her findings remains unverified.

Addressing the Issue of “Pretendians”

Semaganis argues that falsely claiming Indigenous identity can have detrimental effects on Indigenous communities, especially in light of historical injustices like the Sixties Scoop. She emphasizes the need to combat individuals who exploit Indigenous heritage for personal gain.

Despite facing legal action, Semaganis remains steadfast in her mission to safeguard Indigenous spaces and identities. She acknowledges the complexity of her work and strives to set a precedent for accurate genealogical research within Indigenous communities.

As the lawsuit unfolds, the debate surrounding “pretendians” continues to spark discussions among Indigenous leaders and communities. While the legal proceedings play out, the broader issue of false claims to Indigenous identity remains a point of contention.