Native American Hollywood Producer Accused of Faking Cherokee Heritage

Prominent Hollywood figure Heather Rae, who has claimed to be Cherokee for decades and has centered herself as a creator of Native stories, lacks ties to a tribal nation, according to the Cherokee Nation. Rae did not benefit from the tribe's film incentive program, which requires citizenship in a federally recognized tribe. The Academy's embrace of "self-identification" has also been criticized, as Rae's claims about her tribal identity have been called into question. Rae is a Narrative Change Strategist for Illuminative, which aims to ensure accurate depictions of Native peoples in media.