U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) was so moved while at a protest against the Dakota Access pipeline that she discovered a newfound connection with her “indigenous heritage.”
She announced her new tribal heritage in a video comment on Instagram where she described how being surrounded by native people “awakened” her to her Taínos heritage.
“One of the things that first started awakening and connecting me in a deep to my indigenous heritage was connecting to the Lakota Sioux at Standing Rock,” Ocasio-Cortez said.
.@AOC says Native Americans claimed her as a “relative” at Standing Rock. Says she “awakened” to her Native American roots. pic.twitter.com/WnkmjV7QG9
— John Gage (@johnrobertgage) June 4, 2022
“It really just clicked that this is nuts, like, the grace that they extended to say ‘no, you are a relative,’ was really formative for me. While we may not be and come from the same exact lineage, there is a commonality to that ancestry. And it’s important for us to recognize that we were raised and we were told growing up that we were extinct, that Taínos don’t exist, and it’s really important for Puerto Ricans to understand that that narrative is being challenged right now.”
.@AOC blames colonization for erasing understanding of her Native American culture. pic.twitter.com/PlEUttcaJa
— John Gage (@johnrobertgage) June 4, 2022
On Saturday, Ocasio-Cortez also explained to her followers some ways that her Taíno culture has impacted America such as the word “Juracán.” She claims that it comes from Taíno mythology but has been suppressed due to colonization.
(Photo Credit: Instagram)
“In fact, Juracáns were brought forth by one of the Taíono Gods Guabancex,” she said, noting that symbols used to depict the gods who “understood the spiral wind patterns of hurricanes” are distinctly similar to modern-day hurricane symbols.
It was a big day for Ocasio-Cortez who also took time to explain her Yoruban culture that she claimed infiltrated Puerto Rico when her African ancestors were brought to the island and enslaved.
.@AOC claims she is culturally African. pic.twitter.com/6jE2CeYS1i
— John Gage (@johnrobertgage) June 4, 2022
Ocasio-Cortez’s family emigrated to New York City by way of Puerto Rico but that hasn’t stopped her from claiming Jewish, European and Black heritage over the years.
“As is the story of Puerto Rico, we are a people that are an amalgamation,” she said in 2018 at a synagogue. “We are no one thing. We are Black; we are indigenous; we are Spanish; we are European.”
“A very, very long time ago, generations and generations ago, my family consisted of Sephardic Jews,” she said later, talking about the “small menorahs” that her ancestors used to have tucked away in a closet.
At Hanukkah event with @JFREJNYC in an moving speech, @Ocasio2018 shares that her family were Sephardic Jews who fled to Puerto Rico. “So many of our destinies are tied beyond our understanding” pic.twitter.com/68bjuCFnDD
— Taly Krupkin (@TalyKrupkin) December 10, 2018
Many people were incredulous at Ocasio-Cortez’s newfound indigenous roots.
Is there any minority she hasn’t claimed at this point?
— Dr. Done Placating (@TheLostieLost) June 4, 2022
As a true Native American I find this incredibly offensive.
— Mickey (@MickeyJamison) June 5, 2022
It’s too late for her to claim LGBTQ status since she’s announced that she’s going to marry her boyfriend … unless …
— Ed Kern (@bo_leggs) June 4, 2022
One person claimed that she was the “new Pocahontas” but was quickly corrected by someone noting it was more likely she was the new “fauxahontas.”
Thats fauxahontas
— christimcd – just me (@christimcdaniel) June 4, 2022
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Ashley Hill is a California native that loves God, guns and liberty. She holds a B.A. in History and Spanish and a Master's in Public Administration.
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