A New York City millionaire, Jean-Louis Goldwater Bourgeois, broke his promise to leave his $5 million West Village property to a Native American tribe. Instead, he bequeathed $50,000 to his cat, Mali. This is a peculiar turn of events, given Bourgeois’s history of advocating for Native American rights.
The 2016 Promise to the Lenape Indian Tribe
In 2016, Bourgeois pledged to give his historic home to the Lenape Indian tribe, the original Native American nation in Manhattan. He claimed to be “disgusted” that the property had been “taken by whites” and expressed his sense of guilt for profiting from what he considered a “major theft.”
Bourgeois first considered returning the land after meeting Joseph Scabby Robe, a Cree Indian from Manitoba, Canada, during an Occupy Wall Street protest in 2011. Bourgeois was introduced to Native American chief Anthony Van Dunk, but their relationship eventually soured, and the deal fell apart.
The Cat’s Inheritance and Bourgeois’s Remaining Estate
Despite the broken promise, Chief Van Dunk praised Mali the cat, who received a $50,000 inheritance for her care. Bourgeois left the money to a close friend in Queens, who would look after Mali. The rest of his $15 million estate was distributed among friends, his adopted son, and his mother’s charity, the Easton Foundation.
Unfulfilled Commitment and Current Property Status
Advertisement
Bourgeois’s will did not mention the West Village property he had initially promised to the Native American tribe. Purchased in 2006 for $2.2 million, the three-story home’s value has since soared to at least $5 million. Bourgeois’s brother Alain has said that “no decision has been made” on the property.
Concluding Commentary:
The situation is a disheartening one, as Bourgeois had once been a passionate advocate for Native American rights. His failure to honor his commitment to the Lenape…
