I don’t understand why someone without any connection to any tribal nation or community (whether through legal documentation or kinship) feels the need to write a musical about the Native experience.

If we’re going to advocate for racial justice in the American theater, then we need to address #redface and #pretendians.

It is problematic for people who are not legally affiliated with any tribal nation or community to make careers in the entertainment industry by self-identifying as Native American and then proceeding to take what few Native opportunities exist for their own personal profit.

Allowing people to merely self-identity as a member or descendent of a tribal nation without any legal proof undermines tribal sovereignty and further marginalizes those of us who are actually connected to our tribal nations and communities.

Also, this is cultural appropriation exemplified. People profiting off of the suffering of communities that have been historically marginalized and disadvantaged.

These people also perpetuate harmful stereotypes and misinformation about our communities because they don’t know anything about our experiences. How can someone write an accurate play about a tribal nation or citizen when they’re not legally affiliated with a tribe themselves?

It is irresponsible and disrespectful to cast people who only self-identify as Native (without any legal or cultural proof) in Native roles over people who are legally affiliated with a tribal nation. It also further marginalizes our tribal nations and communities.