A new Memorial University policy lets Indigenous organizations confirm eligibility for Indigenous-specific scholarships and research funding, says special adviser Catharyn Andersen. (Photo courtesy of Memorial University)
Memorial University approves new Indigenous verification policy
Recognized organizations to confirm eligibility for specific scholarships, grants and enrolment
Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami says a new Indigenous identity verification policy at Memorial University brings “much-needed clarity in addressing false claims to Indigeneity” and shows “respect for Inuit self-determination.”
The national Inuit organization, which provided consultation for the policy’s development, made the comments on Facebook after the St. John’s, N.L., university adopted the policy on Feb. 25.
Under the new rules, students seeking Indigenous-specific opportunities such as scholarships, research funding, designated program seats or targeted hiring, will need to verify their membership or citizenship through recognized Indigenous governments or collectives.
For Inuit applicants, that includes organizations such as Nunavut Tunngavik Inc., Makivvik Corp. and the Inuvialuit Regional Corp..
Those groups, rather than the university itself, will determine who is recognized as Inuit.
“We’ve seen a lot of people who have claimed to be Indigenous who are not Indigenous,” said Catharyn Andersen, special adviser to the university’s president on Indigenous affairs.
“As a post-secondary institution, we need to ensure that opportunities meant for Indigenous people are actually going to Indigenous people,” she said.
Memorial University’s policy comes after public scrutiny led to the removal in April 2023 of former university president Vianne Timmons, who had identified as Mi’kmaq despite having no verified Indigenous ancestry.
Outside Memorial University around the same time, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. removed a mother and her twin daughters from its enrolment list after investigating reports they had fraudulently claimed Inuit heritage.
Sisters Amira and Nadya Gill had received grants and scholarships from Kakivak Association and Qikiqtani Inuit Association to help fund their studies at Queen’s University in Kingston, Ont.
Memorial University students who wish to apply for Indigenous-specific opportunities will go through one of three pathways, Andersen said.
The first requires primary documentation from a recognized Indigenous collective, such as a beneficiary or status card.
Another pathway allows applicants without primary documentation to provide a statement explaining their relationship to a community or a letter confirming they are recognized by that community.
For Inuit applicants, Andersen said that confirmation would typically come from a regional Inuit organization.
A third pathway is designed for people who have been disconnected from their communities through residential schools or child welfare systems and cannot provide documentation.
“I think this pathway demonstrates a lot of care and recognition of the legacy of colonial practices in our country,” Andersen said.
The university will create a verification committee made up of Indigenous faculty and staff to oversee the process.
Because the committee’s membership has not yet been determined, it is unclear whether an Inuit representative will be included, Andersen said.
About 1,200 students currently self-identify as Indigenous at Memorial University, Andersen said. The school had a total enrolment of 17,881 in 2024, according to the university’s annual report from that year.
The new policy will not affect students or staff who already hold Indigenous-specific scholarships, positions or other designations, Andersen said.
Letter this self identify that? Just go back to good ol blood quantity tests, which cant be faked
“As a post-secondary institution, we need to ensure that opportunities meant for Indigenous people are actually going to Indigenous people,” she said.”
One question: Why are there specific opportunities at the University for indigenous people?
What a ridiculous question, and the fact that you asked it underscores exactly why equity-based access and is needed.
It’s a great question. You don’t think it has merit. Tell us why that is so obvious to you?
The fact that you and S don’t actually know the answer is proof that our education and social systems are sorely lacking.
Get rid of any quota/race based programming. Make it fair for all Canadians. Entry based on merit and also funding for those who really qualify, not based on the colour of their skin.
I’m impressed by your restraint in ‘not’ mentioning the words woke or DEI, but your dog whistle is still loud and clear Tricia.
It has advantage being indigenous it seems, despite that; indigenous ppl are still considered by Canadian society as LC. and to stay away from generally.
Jealous much? You’re speaking with the ignorance of someone from the last century. Pfft.
It’s interesting this article didn’t do much of a deep dive into what has really spurred this on: Nunatsiavut Government, the fourth Inuit Treaty Org from those mentioned, is frustrated over NunaTukavut getting taken seriously by the Feds. ITK took up the mantle for NG, telling Memorial and Dal they need to reject these other groups, as the are not recognized under a treaty, and should therefore be rejected from government dollars, and university dollars by extension (it will mean less dollars for ITK and its members after all). They talk about these alt pathways in the policy but good luck to any Inuit who are not members of a land claim org. It’s more of a foreign concept to Nunavut Inuit given the way membership works, but other Inuit groups are starting to show examples where blood-descendants are denied membership based on their respective rules. For example many Inuvialuit living outside of their region for a two generations, usually Edmonton or Yukon, will often not be eligible for membership. Will they be denied by these policies? Who knows.