Memorial University President Vianne Timmons has issued a statement responding to questions raised about her Indigenous identity. It’s become a fractious topic of late, with a number of high-profile cases involving the misrepresentation of Indigenous identity.

Timmons admits the issue is a complex one, and says she is not Mi’kmaq, she is not Indigenous, nor did she grow up in an Indigenous community. She says she was not raised to learn the ways of Indigenous culture, but says her father, is of Mi’kmaq ancestry and heritage and that is a distinction she is careful to make.

Because of his Indigenous ancestry, and because he was taught to be quiet about it, he had a passion for genealogy, and did extensive research into his background.

She says during her time at the University of Regina, she consulted frequently with local elders, one of whom encouraged her to acknowledge her Mi’kmaw ancestry at every opportunity.

She was told she had an obligation to make her ancestors visible.

Based on genealogy, her family was registered as members of the Bras d’Or Mi’kmaq First Nation, a band that is not federally recognized and which has been working toward status for many years. She has a membership card but she was uncomfortable with that membership as she was not raised in the community or the culture and she discontinued it.

She says it’s all part of an important learning experience, and is a journey she’s still on. She says falsely claiming Indigenous identity is “categorically wrong and harms Indigenous people” which is why she makes the distinction about her own heritage, on which she says he always felt she was very clear.