22 episodes
Pretendians Canadaland Beyond
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- True Crime
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4.8 • 3.5K Ratings
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“I love working on Pretendians because it gives me an opportunity to use humor as a vehicle to teach and inform. ” says Angel Ellis, co-host of Pretendians, Apple Podcasts' Spotlight show for July 2024.
Angel Ellis is a free-press activist and director of Mvskoke Media. Her co-host Robert Jago is a freelance writer, entrepreneur, and Indigenous rights activist from Richmond, British Columbia. Together, they pitched the show to the podcast network, Canadaland, as a new original series. “I broke one of the first big Pretendian stories of this whole moment,” says Jago, “and the way that I did it didn’t provide enough context. This series gives me a chance to try and reshape that.”
Ellis and Jago hope listeners understand the serious nature of the problem, while becoming more acquainted to Native joy and humor. “The broadest part of society coming to understand its impact on Indigenous people, has always been a driving motivation for me,” says Ellis. “ If nothing else, I hope listeners learn that there is a way to be supportive of and enjoy Indigenous cultures without wearing it like some passing fad.”
What do some of the most prominent and successful Indigenous artists, leaders and professors have in common? They aren’t Indigenous.
There are hundreds of cases of Indigenous identity fraud that we know about, and likely thousands that we do not. So why do these so-called “pretendians” do it? How do they pull it off? And what happens when they are exposed?
In each episode of this riveting new podcast series, co-hosts Robert Jago (Kwantlen First Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe) and Angel Ellis (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) reveal unbelievable stories of audacious fraudsters and investigate the complex phenomenon of Indigenous identity theft.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Interview with a Pretendian
Why do people pretend to be Native? Hosts Robert Jago (Kwantlen First Nation and Nooksack Indian Tribe) Angel Ellis (Muscogee (Creek) Nation) begin their journey by asking someone who has been doing just that.
He’s not just your average imposter – "Grand Chief" Guillaume Carle is the king of the “pretendians", a French Canadian who made a small fortune creating his own fake First Nation and issuing phony Indian Status Cards to thousands of other identity thieves.
Pretendians cannot get made without you. For a limited time, become a Canadaland Supporter for just $2/month and get every episode one week early and ad-free.
Sponsors: AG1 Betterhelp
You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Pretending in Prison
Marvin "Casper" Ouimet was your ordinary terrifying Hells Angel mob boss until he was sent to prison for conspiracy to commit murder. That's where he declared himself to be Indigenous. The prison asked no questions, and granted him access to a special program for Native inmates, in which prisoners get private cells, spiritual guidance, better food and ultimately – reduced sentences. But what about the real Natives in these programs?
Hosts: Robert Jago & Angel Ellis
Credits: Jesse Brown (Publisher, Executive Producer), Caleb Thompson (Audio Editor, Mixer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)
Pretendians cannot get made without you. For a limited time, become a Canadaland Supporter for just $2/month and get every episode one week early and ad-free.
Sponsors: AG1, BetterHelp
You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Make Native America Great Again
Oklahoma's Republican governor Kevin Stitt is a card-carrying member of the Cherokee Nation. So why is he also considered the most "anti-Native governor" in history? A look at his family history reveals some wild surprises, and shows how Indigenous identity can be used as a weapon against Native nations.
Pretendians cannot get made without you. For a limited time, become a Canadaland Supporter for just $2/month and get every episode one week early and ad-free.
Sponsors: AG1, BetterHelp
You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Pretendian Hunters
What happens when Pretendian investigations go wrong? Robert talks to Jacqueline Keeler, the person behind the “Alleged Pretendians List". Then, he talks to Kiros Auld, whose name appeared on that controversial list. The problem? Kiros is legitimately Native.
Editors Note - An earlier version of this episode stated that "the Pamunkey Indian Tribe is the only federally recognized tribe in the state of Virginia" Since publishing it was brought to our attention that The Pamunkey Indian Tribe is one of seven federally recognized tribes in the state of Virginia.
Pretendians cannot get made without you. Become a Canadaland Supporter and get every episode one week early and ad-free.
Sponsors: Betterhelp
You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Johnny Depp and the Hollywood Phonies
There are no shortage of stories about movie stars who played Native and kept the act going even after the cameras stopped rolling. Iron Eyes Cody, Sacheen Littlefeather, and Johnny Depp – being a Pretendian is a Hollywood tradition! A history of how they did it, and how well they were paid for it.
Pretendians cannot get made without you. Become a Canadaland Supporter and get every episode one week early and ad-free.
Sponsors: AG1 Betterhelp
You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. -
Indigenish
What makes people fake being Native? How do they explain it once the truth comes out? And is there any way to be not Native, but….Native adjacent? We talk to three people who lived it.
Pretendians cannot get made without you. Become a Canadaland Supporter and binge the entire first season ad-free.
Sponsors: AG1 Betterhelp
You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
Customer Reviews
Love this podcast! Another season please!!
Great hosts - I could listen to them all day! Important topic, presented in a smart, witty, entertaining way….and the music!!!! *chefs kiss*! Learning it’s AI generated even better! Please make more episodes of Pretendians! I work in post secondary education - we need you!
Woman host’s job is outrage
It’s an interesting topic and I want to know more but I have trouble putting up with the 2nd host’s presence apparently being relegated to just swearing and being upset, plus asking the obvious next question. It really cheapens the whole thing.
awesome!!!
definitely one of my favourite canadaland podcasts so far. amazing journalism and the hosts are funny and a joy to listen to.
future episode suggestion: Newfoundlands pretendian princess, Vianne Timmons!