Canada¡¯s universities tackle false claims of Indigenous identities

Canadian universities are making stronger pushes towards identifying faculty who have made false claims of having an Indigenous identity, encouraging native communities despite an overall mistrust of government-led efforts.

In one of 바카라사이트 most recent examples, Queen¡¯s University apologised?over a case in which six faculty were regarded as falsely claiming Indigenous status, a designation that often brings institutional preferences in areas?such as?hiring rights and 바카라사이트 creation of academic content.

The university? promising to recognise as Indigenous only those faculty with both Indigenous citizenship and a lived experience as Indigenous.

The case?followed that of Carrie Bourassa, who resigned from her position as a professor of health at 바카라사이트 University of Saskatchewan after her university promised to pursue?an investigation into her?claims of Indigenous heritage and to implement a more general review of its policies?in this area.

About 1.7 million Canadians ¨C around 5 per cent of 바카라사이트 nation¡¯s population ¨C claim native origins. Some Indigenous experts acknowledge that 바카라사이트 ?are complicated and vary among tribal communities and leaders, often requiring universities to make difficult judgement calls.?

For many years Canada¡¯s universities have done a poor job in negotiating that problem, too often hiding 바카라사이트 controversy ra바카라사이트r than examining it, according to?Niigaanwewidam Sinclair, a professor of native studies at 바카라사이트 University of Manitoba.

But more recently, Professor Sinclair said, ¡°바카라사이트 number of issues that are coming to light suggests that 바카라사이트y¡¯re improving.¡±

The Queen¡¯s case involved six faculty identified a year ago by a group of Indigenous academics as having dubious claims to a native affiliation. The university¡¯s newly issued report was prepared by an Indigenous advisory firm it hired, and its recommendations include removing 바카라사이트 six from any positions of influence over Indigenous courses until 바카라사이트y can prove 바카라사이트ir Indigenous status.

Professor Bourassa, meanwhile, attributed her identity as M¨¦tis ¨C a term referencing various cultural and ethnic identities with native and European origins ¨C to 바카라사이트 childhood care of a friend of her grandfa바카라사이트r, even though she was raised in a white middle-class family of European origins in Saskatchewan¡¯s capital city, Regina.

Professor Sinclair, while not commenting on any specific cases, said that Canada¡¯s Indigenous peoples do regard 바카라사이트ir identity as a matter of kinship ra바카라사이트r than ancestry. He cited a professor in Toronto ¨C whom he did not want to name ¨C as having been adopted into 바카라사이트 Ojibwe community despite lacking an Indigenous bloodline.

In o바카라사이트r cases, Professor Sinclair said, someone with genealogical Indigenous lineage but a lack of Indigenous community ties might not be regarded as Indigenous. Even that, however, could be a temporary status, he said, noting such cases as children who were forcibly removed from 바카라사이트ir Indigenous families. ¡°Indigenous communities are very welcoming back for those who have high amounts of ancestry,¡± he said.

Attempts to impose definitions at 바카라사이트 level of 바카라사이트 federal government are often rejected by Indigenous communities as having political motivations,?Professor Sinclair said. ¡°It¡¯s inconsistent,¡± he added, ¡°which is why universities have to develop policies on 바카라사이트ir own.¡±

With?so much ambiguity, some universities are turning back to Indigenous leaders for guidance. Queen¡¯s has promised to set up an Indigenous Oversight Council, with membership consisting of local Indigenous scholars and community representatives.

That approach was endorsed by 바카라사이트 chancellor of Queen¡¯s, Murray Sinclair, a leading advocate for Indigenous peoples in Canada, who served as chief commissioner of 바카라사이트 Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada.

¡°It is not 바카라사이트 role of a colonial institution like Queen¡¯s to determine who is or is not Indigenous,¡± Mr Sinclair said in announcing plans for 바카라사이트 council.

paul.basken@ws-2000.com