Faking Indigenous Identity in Canada is Good for Business | The Pretendians

Credit: Best Documentary

The Pretendians is a powerful and timely documentary by Anishinaabe writer Drew Hayden Taylor that explores the growing phenomenon of false claims to Indigenous identity across Canada.

As headlines erupt with stories of public figures accused of being “pretend Indians,” Taylor sets out to uncover the truth behind these identity frauds.

Why would someone fake being Indigenous?

What do they gain—and what is lost in the process?

From forged status cards and stolen tax benefits to knock-off Indigenous art sold to tourists, this investigative journey exposes the cultural, political, and economic consequences of such deception. Along the way, Taylor meets those genuinely seeking their Indigenous roots, as well as those fighting to protect their communities from exploitation.

Through humour, empathy, and hard-hitting questions, The Pretendians challenges us to rethink who gets to claim Indigeneity—and why it matters now more than ever.