Forging a new path in Lenapehoking
Fellowship adopts sovereignty standards following Regan de Loggans fiasco
Y’all remember Regan Loggans aka Regan de Loggans? Despite being one of the loudest “Indigenous” voices in Lenapehoking — activist speak for New York City — the self-proclaimed agitator slithered into silence after being written about repeatedly on Indianz.Com and Pretendian Country Today. Go figure!
But Loggans (they/themme) isn’t the only figure in this fiasco. Because for every Pretendian willing to speak for actual Native people, you will find someone willing to hire them, no questions asked.
Which brings us to The Vera List Center for Art and Politics at The New School, a prominent institution in New York City. For it was a January 11, 2022, announcement from the VLC that truly opened the door for Loggans to be exposed as a “violent, conniving colonizer,” as one prominent Native environmental leader put it.💀
In the announcement, VLC proudly proclaimed Loggans as the “inaugural” Borderlands Curatorial Fellow for 2021-2022. The new curator was even identified as a “Mississippi Choctaw / K’iche’ Maya descendant” by this noteworthy research organization and public forum for art, culture, and politics.
Yet after being approached by Indianz.Com to explain, and after facing considerable fire on social media, Loggans removed all references to “Mississippi Choctaw” from their sizable platform. They further admitted in a statement that they had no connection to the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, a federally recognized tribe. Again, go figure.
And, except for partying loudly with the Snotty Nose Rez Kids in April with one of their co-conspirators, we haven’t heard a peep from this formerly active figure since a post on Instagram on February 24. The Indianz.Com story was published on February 28, btw.
Which brings us back to the VLC. With the start of the new academic year upon us, Loggans is no longer on staff at the venerated institution. They are listed as “former staff” under their real name — the “de Loggans” invention is gone too. Score one for the year 2022! And for common sense.
But in an actual sign of progress, the VLC has adopted a new standard for its incoming Borderlands Curatorial Fellow position. With the Native Arts and Cultures Foundation on board as a supporter of the initiative, the hiring announcement recognizes tribal sovereignty and Native self-determination:
In accordance with NACF guidelines, the applicant must demonstrate US-based residency, and must be an enrolled member or citizen of a federally- or state-recognized American Indian tribe or Alaska Native corporation, or of Native Hawaiian ancestry.
According to the announcement, the Borderlands Curatorial Fellow position will start in this fall 2022 term and continue through spring 2023. It’s renewable for another academic term — offering an actual Native person some sense of stability in a city where many faced bullying, intimidation and retaliation from the likes of Loggans.
So have at it, folks. Applications are due September 25, so you’ll have to act quickly! Don’t forget to include “documentation of your Native citizenship or ancestry” with your submission.
Bravo! Another FRAUD put in their proper place.
Honestly, I think R has pretty much every identity that can be co-opted, pretty much covered.