My, my! It is shameful that Boyden's biggest defenders in this discussion are Sun Media (which has compared this to the birther conspiracy) and people who say racist things like "You are so deluded by clinging to your ancestry."

Boyden has claimed numerous variations on indigenous ancestry, but he's never been specific. He's hinted that his Uncle Erl really was indigenous, but how was that? His defenders have suggested it's hard to trace one's ancestors, but we don't know if that's true of Boyden's family tree. He's not telling.

And did he get his gig in New Orleans by saying he had Nipmuc blood and therefore didn't need a Green Card? One wonders. Playing Indian is a common theme in American lit. There are lots of examples. It sure ain't easy to pretend to be Black to get ahead. Unless you're Mindy Kaling's brother.