A First Nations woman is facing a lawsuit for labeling four women as "pretendians." The plaintiffs are seeking over $500,000 in damages and public retractions of the statements made by Michelle Christine Cameron, also known as Crystal Semaganis. Semaganis leads the Ghost Warrior Society, which focuses on protecting spaces for Indigenous Peoples. She argues that individuals falsely claiming Indigenous identity can harm communities.

The lawsuit was filed in July in the Supreme Court of Yukon by Amanda Buffalo, Krista Reid, Amaris Manderschied, and their mother, Louise Darroch. They allege that Semaganis conducted research into their backgrounds and concluded they are of Ukrainian descent rather than Indigenous. The plaintiffs claim Semaganis then launched a "relentless" social media campaign against them.

Tina Yang, a lawyer representing the plaintiffs, stated that they believe Semaganis's research is "insufficient" and "improper." Court documents indicate that Semaganis referred to the women as "grifters," liars, and racists who exploit their claimed Indigenous heritage for personal gain. The four women, two of whom work with Indigenous communities, are collectively seeking damages and public retractions.

The lawsuit claims that since late October 2024, Semaganis has engaged in a "relentless libelous campaign" against the plaintiffs, causing significant harm to their reputations, psychological well-being, income, and academic and business opportunities. Darroch, who was adopted by a non-Indigenous family, later learned of her Indigenous heritage. After Semaganis reached out to Buffalo for information, Darroch contacted Semaganis to explain her background. Semaganis then presented research suggesting Darroch is of Ukrainian descent and shared this information on social media, which the women claim is defamatory.

Semaganis has stated that she has not been formally served with the lawsuit but has received letters from the women's lawyer. She declined to comment on the specifics of the case but noted that she has faced legal challenges before. As a Sixties Scoop survivor, Semaganis emphasized that such lawsuits do not deter her from her work. "If we are constantly bombarded by people with nefarious intent and with constant inauthenticity that comes with 'pretendianism,' then that puts our communities at risk," she said.

The Sixties Scoop refers to a period from 1951 to 1991 when Indigenous children were removed from their families and placed in non-Indigenous care, leading to a loss of cultural connections. Semaganis expressed concern that false claims of Indigenous identity complicate the return of individuals to their communities, citing high-profile cases that have raised doubts about the identities of figures like Buffy Sainte-Marie and Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond.

Semaganis criticized so-called "pretendians" for using the Sixties Scoop narrative to defend their claims. She believes her research is vital for Indigenous communities, even though she acknowledges the challenges in the field. "We realize that we’re not perfect, but we are setting a precedent. And we are doing work that is vitally needed by our people," she said.

The federal government uses a two-generation standard for issuing Indian Status cards, while the Ghost Warrior Society applies a broader standard that includes identifying an Indigenous ancestor within four generations. Last year, the Manitoba Metis Federation and the Chiefs of Ontario condemned individuals who falsely claim Indigenous identity, stating that such actions further marginalize First Nations, Inuit, and Red River Metis voices. Despite public backlash, Semaganis and other community members remain committed to their efforts. "Every time a pretendian gets removed from their stolen spaces, then maybe Sixties Scoop survivors or Indian residential school survivors can step into those roles they should have had in the first place," she said.