University of Manitoba aims to clamp down on Indigenous identity fraud

The University of Manitoba (UM) aims to introduce a policy for faculty and students wishing to claim Indigenous identity in the fall, sparking discussion about rooting out fraudsters.

The move comes after cases of cultural identity fraud at Memorial University of Newfoundland, the University of British Columbia and the University of Saskatchewan among other post-secondaries. 

“The challenges that have occurred nationally with Indigenous identity fraud have certainly supported our need to be able to better support our Indigenous colleagues,” said Catherine Cook, UM’s vice-president (Indigenous).

“When Indigenous identity fraud occurs, it really does remove an opportunity that was specifically there for Indigenous people.”

The policy hasn’t been