Jamake Highwater
Jamake Highwater (born Jackie Marks, also known as Jay or J Marks; 14 February 1931 – June 3, 2001) was an American writer and journalist of Eastern European Jewish ancestry who mispresented himself as Cherokee.
Jamake Highwater | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jackie Marks 13 February 1931 Los Angeles, California, US |
| Died | June 1, 2001 (aged 70) Los Angeles, California, US |
| Nationality | American |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Awards | Newbery Honor |
In the late 1960s, Marks assumed a pretendian identity, claiming to be Cherokee, and used the name "Jamake Highwater" for his writings. As Highwater, he wrote and published more than 30 fiction and non-fiction books of music, art, poetry and history. His children's novel Anpao: An American Indian Odyssey (1973) received a Newbery Honor. His book The Primal Mind: Vision and Reality in Indian America (1981) was the basis of a PBS film documentary about Native American culture.
Marks was exposed as an imposter in 1984 by Assiniboine activist Hank Adams and reporter Jack Anderson in separate publications. Despite this, Marks continued to be widely perceived by the general public as Native American.