What is OPLIAM’s Mohawk family history?

The Sawyer family originally came from Kahnawake before moving to Hogansburg (Akwesasne) in the mid-1800s. OPLIAM's direct ancestor Delia Deschamp (Mary Delia Warner) was the daughter of Susan Sawyer.

Why was OPLIAM previously described as a Mohawk tribal member?

In 2022, publisher Penguin Random House mistakenly listed OPLIAM as a tribal member rather than a Mohawk descendant in initial marketing text. The publisher corrected the designation once notified.

OPLIAM Indigenous Identity & Mohawk Lineage Records

“Only Indians and Dogs have to prove their pedigree”

— Dr. Vine Deloria Jr.

What is OPLIAM’s Indigenous Heritage and Lineage?

The Sawyer family’s tribal enrollment with the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe has been verified by Ellison King, a Mohawk genealogist and MCA (Mohawk Council of Akwesasne) tribal government official. With additional support from the Akwesasne Kahwatsi:re Genealogy & Historical Society, a Native American-run organization that holds records on over 10,000 Mohawk people dating back to the 1500s. The Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (Akwesasne) exclusively supports genealogical research through the genealogy society, which is featured on the tribal government website here. The Tribal Enrollment records for Frank Sawyer were accessed directly from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne Tribal Government database.

McDonald Family personal photo albums documenting Mohawk family lineage. — Source: McDonald Family personal photo albums.

OPLIAM’s Mohawk Ancestry and Family History

Liam McDonald also known by his stage name OPLIAM is a Mohawk descendant. He is the first generation in his family to not be born and raised in the St. Lawerence River Valley. Growing up in Minneapolis, MN. Liam’s Indigenous ancestry is on his father’s side. His father was born in Watertown, NY, near where the St.Lawerence River meets Lake Ontario near the Adirondack Mountains. Liam’s family has lived in the same small town of Watertown since they left the reservation. Liam’s closest direct Mohawk relative is Delia Deschamp (maiden name Mary Delia Warner-pictured bottom left). When Delia was just two years old, her father Andrew Warner died. She was then taken from her mother, Susan Sawyer (seen above, back center), as was common for those times when she was adopted into a white family. Later on, Susan remarried a man by the name of Francois Robidoux. (Susan Sawyer-Warner-Robidoux). Later in life, Delia reconnected with her mom and Native family (Pictured above) and settled with her husband on Wolfe Island and ultimately Watertown, NY.

The Sawyer family is originally from Kahnawake, a Mohawk community located south of Montreal, Quebec, commonly called Caughnawaga. The family moved to Hogansburg along with many other Mohawk families in the mid-1800s and held membership in the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe (Akwesasne) for multiple generations. Akwesasne is located on both sides of the border between the United States and Canada. In the mid-1700s, the community of Akwesasne was resettled by Catholic Mohawk families from Kahnawake to relieve overcrowding. French Jesuit priests founded a mission (St. Regis) in the community. However, Mohawk families did not leave Kahnawake en masse until the middle of the 1800s, when Akwesasne once again became a primarily Mohawk community. The Sawyer family is mentioned on this 1890 list of Saint Regis (Akwesasne) reserve occupants. Louis Sawyer Sr., Susan Sawyer’s father, is also buried on Akwesasne territory.

Along with her four siblings, Mary, Louis, John H., and Jane, Susan Sawyer was tribally enrolled with the St. Regis Mohawk Tribe of New York, this has been confirmed by historical tribal enrollment records held by the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne band office. Her nephew Frank Sawyer (Son of Louis and Margarett Sawyer) was the only Sawyer to remain on the reserve. His 1901 tribal enrollment document was accessed directly from the tribal government database and is posted at the bottom of this page, this document clearly confirms his and his father Louis Sawyer’s (Brother to Susan Sawyer) enrollment with the tribe. Today there are 11 Sawyers enrolled with Akwesasne.

Clarifying OPLIAM’s Identity and Genealogy

Following the 2022 announcement of OPLIAM’s debut book, public confusion arose stemming from an erroneous description initially drafted by the publisher (Penguin Random House). The publisher mistakenly listed Liam as a Mohawk tribal member—a designation Liam had never claimed, as his heritage is as a Mohawk descendant. Penguin Random House promptly corrected the marketing text once the error was identified.

Contrary to online speculation, the immediate and extended McDonald family remains completely unified in their shared Indigenous heritage and identity. Claims suggesting internal disagreement or conflicting family accounts are entirely fabricated.

Furthermore, unverified third-party claims have relied exclusively on incomplete, open-source internet genealogy platforms rather than official tribal government archives. Such unofficial approaches lack endorsement from tribal governments, official genealogists, or tribal leaders, bypassing strict verification protocols.

The McDonald family’s lineage is established not through internet search tools, but through primary archival records—including historical enrollment databases maintained directly by the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne.

Archival Records: 1901 St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Enrollment Documentation

1901 St. Regis Mohawk Tribe approved tribal enrollment record for Frank Sawyer from the Mohawk Council of Akwesasne database.

Transcription of 1901 St. Regis Mohawk Tribal Enrollment Record

Full name: Frank Sawyer
Reservation: St. Regis Reservation
Post Office: Hogansburg
County: Franklin
State: NY
Date & Place of Birth: June 5th, 1873, St. Regis Reservation St. Of NY
To what tribe of band do you belong: St. Regis American Indian Tribe
By what right do you claim membership?: Father was an American Indian, St. Regis Indians, mother was a French woman adopted by the tribe, and drew NY state annuities up to about the year of 1870.
Are you married?: No
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
N/A
Given Names of Father and Mother: Louis Sawyer, Margaret Sawyer
Where were they born?: State of NY
Did they reside in the U.S.?: Yes
To which band of NY Indians did they belong? Father to St. Regis Tribe

Complaint:

“Some years ago the chiefs of the St. Regis NY Tribe of Indians brought three different actions against my father (Louis Sawyer) in the county court at Malone, NY to dispossess him of his land rights and his rights as a member of the St. Regis NY Tribe of American Indians. And in each case decisions were rendered in father’s favor.”

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Decision:

Frank Sawyer (Claimant) has been reinstated, enrolled and approved by the council.

Signed, dated and notarized by Claimant and Commissioner.