The Chi-Nations Youth Council has issued a statement regarding Liam “OPLIAM” McDonald of Opliam Music and Sky People Entertainment, Monetizing off Fraudulent Native Identity and Co-opting of Indigenous Peoples Day.
Liam “OPLIAM” McDonald
As Indigenous Peoples Day approaches, we should ask ourselves what this does for Indigenous communities and whose voices should be centered in this conversion.
We believe the Chicago Movement for Indigenous Peoples Day has always been a pathway to abolishing Columbus Day. Those who should be centered are members of Caribbean communities and descendants of the African Diaspora who were impacted by the slave trade. As the movement gains popularity, we must push back and recognize that it has become a literal performance as embodied by the pervasive actions and claims made by Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago’s Liam “OPLIAM” McDonald.
The issue of non-native people positioning themselves as Native Americans, such as McDonald’s false and ever-changing claims and different points of connection to Mohawk identity, does not empower Native communities nor protect tribal sovereignty. McDonald has no lived experiences as a Native person and has weaponized his fraudulent claims of Mohawk descendant and family lore to capitalize on Indigenous oppression, forced removal, and cultural genocide, positioning himself as a spokesperson for Indigenous issues.
By claiming an Indigenous identity, McDonald is trying to replace real Native peoples. The act of replacement is driven by the white settlers’ “logic of elimination” regarding the United States’ “Indian problem.” McDonald, whose family has lived as white for generations and European before emigration, harms Native movements with fraudulent claims of indigeneity that perpetuates the disappearance of Indigenous worldview, experience, and community by centering himself as a white male.
The Indigenous Peoples Day Concert does nothing to push forward the abolishment of Columbus Day. This literal performance isn’t educational, meaningful, or effective in changing the political reality for Native peoples in Chicago. The concert pulls from Buffalo Bill’s playbook and puts actual Native peoples on display while McDonald lines his own pockets and constructs false narratives of the experiences of Indigenous communities.
We urge everyone to pull their support of Liam “Opliam” McDonald and stop enabling him to cause harm to Native peoples and movements.
Indigenous Peoples Day Chicago
Take Action
Question Liam “OPLIAM” McDonald’s ever-changing identity. Liam McDonald only cites the Akwesasne Kahwatsi:re Genealogy & Historical Society and not the multiple Band offices of the tribes he has claimed.
Contact the sponsors and venue. Inform the sponsors and venue of the harm that people who claim a fraudulent identity have in the erasure of Indigenous communities and the threat to tribal sovereignty.
Support actual Native Artists and Bands used by Liam “OPLIAM” McDonald. Liam McDonald takes advantage of Native people, specifically young people, and attaches himself to people with obscure Native identities. Learn about their artists and their communities.
Learn about Native Identity and Citizenship. Native identity is a political relationship to occupying governments. Read books and articles, listen to podcasts, and watch videos of Indigenous people working in their communities to understand the nuances of Native identity.
Research the sponsors and organizations supporting Liam “OPLIAM” McDonald and the event. Learn about each sponsor and organization’s history of supporting white supremacy to understand why they support Liam “Opliam” McDonald.
Learn about Pretendians. Go to the Pretendians website for public information regarding Pretendians, Faux or Fake Indians, New Age Frauds, Plastic Shamans, Neo-Shamans, and Raceshifters.
Online Documents
Google Doc, A Commentary on Liam McDonald’s Claim & Evidence of Mohawk/Native American heritage (.pdf)
Google Doc, Updated commentary on Liam McDonald’s Claim & Evidence of Mohawk/Native American heritage (.pdf) [updated]
Sponsors and Venue
- DCASE – Erin Harkey, Commissioner: eharkey@cityofchicago.org
- International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago – Pepe Vargas, Executive Director: pvargas@latinoculturalcenter.org
- International Latino Cultural Center of Chicago – Matthew “Mateo” Mulcahy, Deputy Executive Director and Co-Founder of Indigenous Peoples Day: mmulcahy@latinoculturalcenter.org
- American Indian Center of Chicago – info@chicagoaic.org
- Chop Shop Chicago – Brian, Venue GM: brian@chicagochopshop.com
- Sky People Entertainment – Liam McDonald, Owner: skypeopleentertainment@gmail.com
Changing Identity
December 4, 2018, “OPLIAM’s family on his father’s side comes from the Kahnawake Mohawk reserve outside of Montreal,” *McDonald’s blog post and article lists “Kahnawake Mohawk reserve,” and no archived bio page available. The next archived bio page, dated June 15, 2019, is listed next.
June 15, 2019, “The title MEDICINE WOMXN is a dedication to OPLIAM’S great great grandmother (Delia Duchamp), who was a traditional Mohawk Medicine Woman in the North East.” *No exact tribal affiliation.
November 1, 2020, “OPLIAM’s family is Mohawk, one of the six Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) nations, originating from Kahnawake Mohawk reserve outside of Montreal, Quebec.” *No exact tribal affiliation; it lists a reserve and not a Tribe.
March 27, 2022, “OPLIAM’s family is Mohawk, originally from Kahnawake Mohawk Reserve outside of Montreal, Quebec.” *No exact tribal affiliation; it lists a reserve and not a Tribe.
May 4, 2022, at Album Release Party & Blog. When asked, “Who is your Family?” McDonald responded with, “Google McDonald, Ahkwesáhsne, man” and “Somebody call the cops or something, man”
May 25, 2022, “or his more recent assertions of being from the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, OPLIAM’s Native affiliation claims” *Claims St. Regis Mohawk Tribe, but not listed on the website until August 29, 2022. The website still claims the previous “Kawhnakee Mowahk Reserve.”
May 29, 2022, “We have her records and know she was born near Kahnawake Mohawk reserve and that the family’s traditional surname is “Snow.”” *No exact tribal affiliation; it lists a reserve and not a Tribe. This is the first and only reference to the name “Snow.” McDonald does not use it again.
August 29, 2022, “Susan Sawyer was tribally enrolled with the St.Regis Mohawk tribe of NY (Akwesasne).” *McDonald changed the tribal connection from Kahnawà:ke (south of Montréal) to Ahkwesáhsne (St. Regis, New York and Quebec/Ontario, Canada).
August 30, 2022, “OPLIAM, is an internationally touring and critically acclaimed rock n’ roll musician of Kanien’kehá:ka (Mohawk) Descent.” *Book bio states previous tribal claim of Kahnawà:ke after own site states Ahkwesáhsne.
April 5, 2023, “On his father’s side, OPLIAM is Native American, and as a musician and writer, he has never lost sight of his roots.” *No reference to the family’s tribal lineage.
September 29, 2023, “With his Native American heritage on his father’s side,” Does not list a tribe in his bio.
Mohawk Communities
Source: Wikipedia, Mohawk people
Northern New York
- Kanièn:ke (Ganienkeh) “Place of the flint”. Traditional governance.
- Kanaʼtsioharè:ke “Place of the washed pail.” Traditional governance.
Along the St Lawrence in Quebec
- Ahkwesáhsne (St. Regis, New York and Quebec/Ontario, Canada) “Where the partridge drums.” Traditional governance, band/tribal elections. *Liam “OPLIAM” McDonald has claimed that “Susan Sawyer was tribally enrolled with the St.Regis Mohawk tribe of NY (Akwesasne).”
- Kahnawà:ke (south of Montréal) “On the rapids.” Canada, traditional governance, band/tribal elections. *Liam “OPLIAM” McDonald has claimed, “Kahnawake Mohawk reserve.”
- Kanehsatà:ke (Oka) “Where the snow crust is.” Canada, traditional governance, band/tribal elections.
- Tioweró:ton (Sainte-Lucie-des-Laurentides, Quebec). Canada shared governance between Kahnawà꞉ke and Kanehsatà꞉ke.
Southern Ontario
- Kenhtè꞉ke (Tyendinaga) “On the bay”. Traditional governance, band/tribal elections.
- Wáhta (Gibson) “Maple tree.” Traditional governance, band/tribal elections.
- Ohswé:ken “Six Nations of the Grand River.” Traditional governance, band/tribal elections. The Kanienʼkehá꞉ka form the majority of the population of this Iroquois Six Nations reserve. There are also Kanienʼkehá꞉ka Orange Lodges in Canada.
Liam “OPLIAM” McDonald Links
Opliam Music | Sky People Entertainment
