Sibling worries about cultural appropriation

Dear Amy: My mother is adopted. She believed that her biological father was part Native American. As a child with lots of trauma, I completely understand why this may have become a part of her identity growing up. This was something she believed and passed on to my brother and me as we were growing up.

I identified way more with the very German side of my father’s family, but my brother seems to have grown up with this idea as a core part of his identity.

Recently, my mother and her bio brother (my uncle) did a DNA test that showed there is no native blood in our family, and while my mother has adapted seemingly well, my brother still goes around promoting this part of his heritage.

He is a local politician and publicly announces his native ancestry. He had symbols of native ancestry at his wedding (which took place after finding all this out). I heard more than one comment about how it was not OK. He uses native rituals, publicly posts and gives interviews about his heritage.

Amy, it makes me uncomfortable, as he is clearly culturally appropriating what does not belong to him and announcing that our family is something it is not.

Any attempts to bring this up to my family, or to him in particular, has resulted in outbursts and accusations about me being “too sensitive.”

I think it’s in poor taste and reflects on our family poorly, but is it my place to address? My friends and those closest to me already know the truth. — So Many Questions Dear Many Questions: While we in this country believe people have a right to reinvent themselves, I agree that the practice of cultural appropriation is offensive, not only to the group being misrepresented, but to other people who simply don’t like to be lied to.

Your brother’s behavior is fairly extreme, both because he seems to hold a public position where he is representing himself as a Native American in interviews, and because he actually knows the truth about his DNA and is choosing to continue.

I think you care so much because it bothers you to have someone who shares your DNA lying about it.

However, I don’t think you should do anything. Your brother will have to accept whatever consequences flow from it, including your disapproval.