A consultation process is now open on Memorial University’s new draft Indigenous verification policy.

The policy is being brought in to address questions and concerns raised at academic institutions across the country about people claiming false Indigeneity, thereby benefitting from programs aimed at assisting Indigenous students and researchers.

Memorial University vice-president (Indigenous) Catharyn Andersen says the impetus for the draft policy came from Indigenous people across the country.

The movement called on “universities to put something in place that went beyond self-identification for people that were looking for Indigenous-specific opportunities.” Andersen says Memorial University’s “strategic framework for Indigenization, which was approved in 2021, includes a recommendation around developing protocols or policy around Indigenous verification.”

Memorial University itself wasn’t immune to the growing controversy after former president Vianne Timmons stepped down after her own claims to Indigenous ancestry were brought into question.

Feedback on the draft policy is being accepted until May 2.