Leah Yellowbird - Minnesota Artist

[Advanced Smite]

Below is a list, generation by generation, of Leah Hanson Yellowbird's ancestors. I'm not planning to add records to the thread at this time but have reviewed publicly available information for each of the individuals listed below. I've gone back as far as necessary to, in my opinion, disprove Leah's specific claims of holding a Canadian Indian status card and being "part Lebanese." I compiled the list quickly from a family tree so please let me know if you see any errors.



MATERNAL FAMILY OF LEAH KAY HANSON YELLOWBIRD

Generation 1: Mother of Leah Kay Hanson Yellowbird
Pamela Kay Titus
B: DOB REDACTED - Minnesota, USA
D: Living

Generation 2: Parents of Pamela Kay Titus, Maternal Grandparents of Leah Kay Hanson Yellowbird
Richard Willis Titus
B: 25 Aug 1921 - International Falls, Koochiching, Minnesota, USA
D: 25 Jul 2008 - International Falls, Koochiching, Minnesota, USA
Genevieve Katherine Erickson
B: DOB REDACTED - Koochiching County, Minnesota, USA
D: Living

Generation 3: Parents of Richard Willis Titus, Paternal Grandparents of Pamela Kay Titus
George Britton Titus
B: 19 Jul 1895 - Coon Rapids, Carroll, Iowa, USA
D: 18 Sep 1974 - International Falls, Koochiching, Minnesota, USA
Hazel Bell Smith (Father - Born in Ireland, Mother - Parents Likely of Irish Ancestry)
B: 6 Mar 1899 - Elgin, Kane, Illinois, USA
D: 2 May 1970 - Carroll, Carroll, Iowa, USA

Generation 3: Parents of Genevieve Katherine Erickson, Maternal Grandparents of Pamela Kay Titus
Andrew Edward Erickson (Born in Sweden)
B: 7 Sep 1900 - Sweden
D: 9 Feb 1990 - Philip, Haakon, South Dakota, USA
Ada Beatrice Gagnon
B: 14 Sep 1903 - Canada
D: 28 Dec 1981 - San Diego County, California, USA

Generation 4: Parents of Ada Beatrice Gagnon
Joseph Gagnon (Born in Quebec/French Canadian)
B: 22 Aug 1869 - Quebec, Canada
D: 4 Feb 1933 - Rainy River, Ontario, Canada
Ada Teresa Hough (Racial or Tribal Origin on 1921 Census of Canada is “Dutch”)
B: 26 Jun 1874 - Ontario, Canada
D: Unknown


PATERNAL FAMILY OF LEAH KAY HANSON YELLOWBIRD

Generation 1: Father of Leah Kay Hanson Yellowbird
Edward Rudolph Hanson
B: 15 Feb 1938 - International Falls, Koochiching, Minnesota, USA
D: 9 Nov 2009 International Falls, Koochiching, Minnesota, USA

Generation 2: Parents of Edward Rudolph Hanson, Paternal Grandparents of Leah Kay Hanson Yellowbird
Rudolph Lee Hanson
B: 10 Jan 1911- Sawyer County, Wisconsin, USA
D: 28 Oct 1994
Alice Gendron
B: 5 Feb 1914 - International Falls, Koochiching, Minnesota, USA
D: 20 Dec 2003

Generation 3: Parents of Rudolph Lee Hanson, Paternal Grandparents of Edward Rudolph Hanson
Ole J Hanson (Father – Born in Norway, Mother – Parents Born in Norway)
B: 1881 - Minnesota, USA
D: 16 Feb 1959 - Sawyer County, Wisconsin, USA
Lina Sofie "Lennie" Schutte (Father – Born in Denmark, Mother – Born in Pennsylvania)
B: 3 May 1884 - Wisconsin, USA
D: 4 Aug 1956 - Hayward, Sawyer, Wisconsin, USA

Generation 3: Parents of Alice Gendron, Maternal Grandparents of Edward Rudolph Hanson
Edward Joseph Gendron (Father – Born in Quebec/French Canadian, Mother – Born in Belgium)
B: 4 Dec 1891 - Iron Mountain, Dickinson, Michigan, USA
D: 21 Sep 1971 - Koochiching County, Minnesota, USA
Blanche Sabourin (Born in Quebec/French Canadian)
B: 20 Jan 1896 - Québec, Canada
D: 28 Apr 1979 - Koochiching County, Minnesota, USA

[Mirror]

TLDR; sorry the only thing that sticks out to me, and maybe this is a bit too nit picky.
Ojibwe is a far north, beyond Canada border, south of the border is Chippewa.
I mention this because I was screamed at by intermingling the two in discussion, by a Chippewa. Now on the other hand, my other relative used Chippewa (chippy) as a disparaging term, she was Ojibwe farther north than modern sources say. I can only imagine paddling canoes over that expansive waterway. That grandma considered herself and us, British Royals lol. When I think of her, I always giggle a bit thinking her school masters taught her she was now a British Royal subject. It’s always context when dealing with this.
I hope this helps anyone, it helped me typing it.

[Advanced Smite]

TLDR; sorry the only thing that sticks out to me, and maybe this is a bit too nit picky.
Ojibwe is a far north, beyond Canada border, south of the border is Chippewa.
I mention this because I was screamed at by intermingling the two in discussion, by a Chippewa. Now on the other hand, my other relative used Chippewa (chippy) as a disparaging term, she was Ojibwe farther north than modern sources say. I can only imagine paddling canoes over that expansive waterway. That grandma considered herself and us, British Royals lol. When I think of her, I always giggle a bit thinking her school masters taught her she was now a British Royal subject. It’s always context when dealing with this.
I hope this helps anyone, it helped me typing it.

Respectfully, I disagree. I'm enrolled in a south of the border federally-recognized Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe tribe. In the United States it is rare to hear an actual Ojibwe person identify as just "Chippewa" unless they are from Minnesota. Then they might say they are "Minnesota Chippewa." The reason is that multiple Minnesota reservations banded together as the "Minnesota Chippewa." See this link: https://mnchippewatribe.org/. It is common for someone to say they are "Minnesota Chippewa" followed by whether their family is Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, or White Earth. Some may just say the specific band (i.e. Bois Forte, Leech Lake, etc.). Others may just say "Ojibwe" or "Anishinaabe" but should be able to name a band/tribe even if they aren't eligible for enrollment. It's a red flag if they say Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe without ever identifying a specific band/tribe. Many proven fakes posted about on NAFPS seem to just say "Anishinaabe" without ever mentioning a specific band/tribe.

In Wisconsin and Michigan, Ojibwe tribe names include "Chippewa" like The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa but, in my experience, no one says in conversation that they are just "Chippewa." Most often people identify the specific tribe (i.e. Bad River, Lac du Flambeau, Sault Ste Marie, etc.). If speaking generally, some may just say "Ojibwe" or "Anishinaabe" usually followed by the specific band/tribe (i.e. Bad River, Lac du Flambeau, Sault Ste Marie, etc.). Once again, it's a red flag if they can't identify a specific band/tribe even if they aren't eligible for enrollment.

I'm surprised an actual Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe person would be upset with you for intermingling the terms. We're used to it. If speaking broadly, I refer to myself as "Ojibwe" because that is how my Native American parent identified themselves when speaking generally. I've never found it it be unusual in the United States.

You'll notice another commenter on this thread goes by "ojib22" although I'm not sure if they are from the United States or Canada. There are more Ojibwe NAFPS posters that could chime in on this topic. I'm speaking from my own experience and based on my own preference.

[Mirror]

TLDR; sorry the only thing that sticks out to me, and maybe this is a bit too nit picky.
Ojibwe is a far north, beyond Canada border, south of the border is Chippewa.
I mention this because I was screamed at by intermingling the two in discussion, by a Chippewa. Now on the other hand, my other relative used Chippewa (chippy) as a disparaging term, she was Ojibwe farther north than modern sources say. I can only imagine paddling canoes over that expansive waterway. That grandma considered herself and us, British Royals lol. When I think of her, I always giggle a bit thinking her school masters taught her she was now a British Royal subject. It’s always context when dealing with this.
I hope this helps anyone, it helped me typing it.

Respectfully, I disagree. I'm enrolled in a south of the border federally-recognized Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe tribe. In the United States it is rare to hear an actual Ojibwe person identify as just "Chippewa" unless they are from Minnesota. Then they might say they are "Minnesota Chippewa." The reason is that multiple Minnesota reservations banded together as the "Minnesota Chippewa." See this link: https://mnchippewatribe.org/. It is common for someone to say they are "Minnesota Chippewa" followed by whether their family is Bois Forte, Fond du Lac, Grand Portage, Leech Lake, Mille Lacs, or White Earth. Some may just say the specific band (i.e. Bois Forte, Leech Lake, etc.). Others may just say "Ojibwe" or "Anishinaabe" but should be able to name a band/tribe even if they aren't eligible for enrollment. It's a red flag if they say Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe without ever identifying a specific band/tribe. Many proven fakes posted about on NAFPS seem to just say "Anishinaabe" without ever mentioning a specific band/tribe.

In Wisconsin and Michigan, Ojibwe tribe names include "Chippewa" like The Bad River Band of Lake Superior Chippewa but, in my experience, no one says in conversation that they are just "Chippewa." Most often people identify the specific tribe (i.e. Bad River, Lac du Flambeau, Sault Ste Marie, etc.). If speaking generally, some may just say "Ojibwe" or "Anishinaabe" usually followed by the specific band/tribe (i.e. Bad River, Lac du Flambeau, Sault Ste Marie, etc.). Once again, it's a red flag if they can't identify a specific band/tribe even if they aren't eligible for enrollment.

I'm surprised an actual Chippewa/Ojibwe/Anishinaabe person would be upset with you for intermingling the terms. We're used to it. If speaking broadly, I refer to myself as "Ojibwe" because that is how my Native American parent identified themselves when speaking generally. I've never found it it be unusual in the United States.

You'll notice another commenter on this thread goes by "ojib22" although I'm not sure if they are from the United States or Canada. There are more Ojibwe NAFPS posters that could chime in on this topic. I'm speaking from my own experience and based on my own preference.

I totally get it, I don’t have an opinion on someone’s identity. I take people in real life as they present themselves with respect. Knowing that we are all part of the largest diaspora in history that’s still ongoing.
I clearly was retelling two stories from two people, who had never met.

That said, someone wants to come at me, question my truth. I truly feel sorry for them.

[ojib22]

@advanced smite
"Below is a list, generation by generation, of Leah Hanson Yellowbird's ancestors. I'm not planning to add records to the thread at this time but have reviewed publicly available information for each of the individuals listed below. I've gone back as far as necessary to, in my opinion, disprove Leah's specific claims of holding a Canadian Indian status card and being "part Lebanese." I compiled the list quickly from a family tree so please let me know if you see any errors."

I listened to the interview that you referenced in which Leah claimed she has a status card and is part Lebanese, and shook my head multiple times at the continual shifts she makes over time. 
I agree that one of the biggest red flags is that Leah will not name the tribe she is claiming affiliation with, as though, because it is in Canada, no one will ask.  The amount of money she has put into her pockets based on her claim of Metis Anishinaabe, if she is lying (which I believe she is), is criminal.  My belief is that she won't name the tribe because someone on this website or elsewhere will reach out to that tribe to verify her claims, which will fully out her as a fraud. 

Regarding the 'moccasin maker' term on the census pages you found, I did a little research on that and found that there was a large movement made by French immigrants in adopting Indigenous footwear and teaching non-indigenous people how to mass produce them to meet the demand.  I have a few references to that if anyone wants to dig further.