Jimmie Durham

[White Horse]

Claims to be Cherokee and worked on the "central council" of the American Indian Movement.  He is exploiting the American Indian Culture to sell his art pieces.  Could someone find out exactly what heritage this man is?  here is a link with some info on him with some lies sprinkled in:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jimmie_Durham

[White Horse]

Some of his "art" is on exhibit in Miami, thinking about paying them a visit.

[Piff]

 He is not enrolled. He refuses to seek membership or certification.

https://jonathantilove.com/indian-ar/

Durham has in the past stated "I am not an American Indian.". (quote from the link above)

His name is relatively common, so to find out his actual heritage, more clues are probably needed. Middle initial, name of a parent, name of his supposed Cherokee ancestor - things along those lines.

[In Solidarity]

Hello NAFPS - this has just come up on my facebook feed via the facebook group: F.A.I.R. MEDIA - (For Accurate Indigenous Representation)

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/cherokee-curators-artists-jimmie-durham-cherokee-1007336

and a person replying has posted this link as well:

https://hyperallergic.com/387970/jimmie-durham-retrospective-reignites-debate-over-his-claim-of-native-ancestry/

I have no personal connection/relevant experience, or authority to comment on this - so just sharing these links as they may be useful. (?)

Best wishes.

In solidarity - from 'Australia'

[White Horse]

ALL the Cherokee require is you prove a relative/ancestor is on one of their rolls, that's it NO blood quantum! His refusal to even check proves that he knows that he is an fake/exploiter!  Also, the Cherokee Nation EVERY year brings the enrollment committee to Florida for people to see if they are Cherokee or not.  jimmy durham has NEVER attended any of those events! 

[White Horse]

Indian Country Today had an article exposing jimmy durham, here is a link to the story:

https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/opinions/dear-unsuspecting-public-jimmie-durham-trickster/ 

[In Solidarity]

have I given offence? I posted the links because he's a fraud... not in support of him.... just as an fyi for this forum

best wishes

[Sparks]

Indian Country Today had an article exposing jimmy durham, here is a link to the story:
https://indiancountrymedianetwork.com/news/opinions/dear-unsuspecting-public-jimmie-durham-trickster/

The URL has changed: https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/dear-unsuspecting-public-jimmie-durham-is-a-trickster-Rk7_oZ6TPkmIlQLNJN-gPw

See also this article there: https://indiancountrytoday.com/archive/colonizing-fraud-the-jimmie-durham-dilemma-YuvmIWXAC0i1KlYXWa6mpQ

[Sparks]

Another 2017 article about Jimmie Durham (not mentioned here before):

https://www.artnews.com/art-in-america/features/issues-commentary-ethnic-fraud-and-art-63285/

A Jimmie Durham retrospective has revived questions about the artist's identity. Two Native writers—Ashley Holland (Cherokee Nation) and America Meredith—respond to Jonathan Griffin's feature on Durham from Art in America's May 2017 issue.

[Laurel]

Didn't Ward Churchill write an essay or book chapter defending Jimmie Durham as "Nobody's Pet Poodle" and championing him for being a Cherokee "Indian artist" while not proving he has an ancestor on the rolls? Pretty sure that's where I first heard of Durham.

[Sparks]

Didn't Ward Churchill write an essay or book chapter defending Jimmie Durham as "Nobody's Pet Poodle" and championing him for being a Cherokee "Indian artist" while not proving he has an ancestor on the rolls?

He certainly did! Here are bibliographic references: Churchill, Ward: "Nobody's Pet Poodle. Jimmie Durham: an artist for Native North America." Pages 483-499. [In the book] From a Native Son: Selected Essays on Indigenism 1985 (1995). With an introduction by Howard Zinn. Boston, Mass.: South End Press, ©1996. xix, 588 p.: ill., maps; 23 cm. — Also published here: "Nobody's Pet Poodle: Jimmie Durham, An Artist for Native North America," in American Indian Quarterly 20 (Winter 1996): 109-118. — My search indicates it was also printed a couple of other times and places (perhaps in differing versions).

About the book: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/From_a_Native_Son

https://www.worldcat.org/title/from-a-native-son-selected-essays-in-indigenism-1985-1995/oclc/34984190

The whole book is freely available for download here:

https://azinelibrary.org/other/Churchill_-_From_a_Native_Son_-_Selected_Essays_on_Indigenism_1985-1995.pdf

Please note: That essay/chapter is discussed in this 2011 PDF [Allegation B: Misrepresentation of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990]:

https://www.aaup.org/sites/default/files/ConferenceReport.pdf [REPORT ON THE TERMINATION OF WARD CHURCHILL]