Latest news with #IndigenousIdentity
CBC
16 hours ago
- Politics
- CBC
Ontario Human Rights Commission offers hiring guidance to avoid Indigenous identity fraud
A new policy statement from the Ontario Human Rights Commission calls on employers hiring for Indigenous-specific positions to find ways to verify candidates' Indigenous identities, with help from Indigenous communities. Juliette Nicolet, director of policy, education, monitoring and outreach at the Ontario Human Rights Commission (OHRC), said the policy statement is a response to calls from Indigenous organizations and people who have been advocating for safeguards against Indigenous identity fraud. "The need for the guidance was really highlighted by widespread reports of alleged and proven Indigenous identity fraud across Canada ... by non-Indigenous people and so in response people called for action," Nicolet said. "We thought that it was critical that hiring practices and policies for Indigenous-specific positions include a process to confirm claims of Indigenous identity in alignment with [human rights code] obligations." The p olicy statement on Indigenous-specific hiring was released in May. It confirms that hiring Indigenous employees for Indigenous-specific positions is permissible under Ontario's human rights code and calls on employers to establish verification processes of Indigenous identity in consultation with local Indigenous peoples. Nicolet said cases of misrepresentation of Indigenous identity have been brought to the public's attention for years and the damage it does to Indigenous peoples "can't be minimized." " These [fraudulent claims] are harmful practices which, in the view of the Commission, can constitute a breach of trust and threaten the integrity of special programs and special employment positions that are specifically intended to support Indigenous people and address disadvantages resulting from discrimination," Nicolet said. Nicolet said the goal is for employers to reach out to Indigenous communities to begin a conversation. Employers have 'obligation and a right' to verify identity Maurice Switzer, a citizen of the Mississaugas of Alderville First Nation, was on the commission's Indigenous Reconciliation Advisory Group for the development of the policy and asked the OHRC in 2018 to turn its attention to this issue. Representatives from the Ontario Native Women's Association and Ontario Federation of Indigenous Friendship Centres also participated in the creation of the policy statement and context guide. Switzer said employers can be uncomfortable having conversations about verification because standard hiring practices can make it inappropriate or illegal to ask about identity and culture when interviewing candidates for jobs. He said the purpose of the policy is to reinforce to employers that they have an "obligation and a right" to ensure that the person they hire for an Indigenous-specific position is, in fact, Indigenous. "It's not a colonial institution's place to tell people how to determine Indigenous ancestry or what it is…that's up to our communities," Switzer said. He added that the policy underlines this fact, making clear the need to engage with Indigenous communities and build relationships. "A lot of people, I think with the best of intentions, have thought they were contributing to the advancement of awareness of Indigenous peoples…but to do it in a way that's not legitimate or dishonest, that really undermines a lot of what they may have accomplished and it casts a pall over Indigenous peoples," he said. 'A very uncomfortable discussion' Gabriel Maracle, an assistant professor at Carleton University in Ottawa, said it's good to see the OHRC, universities and other institutions taking a lead on some sort of verification policy. He along with Amy Shawanda co-authored a recent Yellowhead Institute report on Indigenous identity fraud in academia. Maracle, who is from Tyendinaga Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte, is hoping organizations that have been 'on the fence' about implementing verification policies become more proactive. "This is a very uncomfortable discussion to have," he said. "The next step is like, 'OK, well we've kind of put in these protective measures now, what do we do about the stuff that kind of got through?' "We're trying to lay down train tracks as the train is coming down." Shawanda, who is Anishinaabe from Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory, is an assistant professor at McGill University in Montreal. She said she sees a need for Indigenous-specific hiring policies. "We have the OHRC now that we can rely on," she said.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Canada proudly celebrates its first TWO-SPIRIT lawmaker...but local critic claims identity is invented
Canada 's House of Commons has been slammed for celebrating its first-ever 'two-spirit' Member of Parliament to mark LGBTQ Pride Month, despite it being called out as a 'fake bs made up term' and the fact he was ousted in favor of a Conservative. The official House of Commons account honored former New Democratic Party member Blake Desjarlais, who lost to long-time Conservative Party rival Kerry Diotte in the recent 2025 election. Even after his defeat, the House of Commons still paid tribute to Desjarlais online for being 'the first Member of Parliament to identify as two-spirit, an identity sacred within many Indigenous communities'. 'Mr. Desjarlais is of Cree and Métis descent, and represented Edmonton Griesbach from 2021–2025. #PrideMonth #NIHM,' the post ended. Two-spirit is a term used by Indigenous North American groups to describe people who embody both masculine and feminine qualities or fulfill traditional roles associated with both genders. But it was only recently coined as part of a broader modern movement said to reclaim traditional gender roles and spiritual identities that existed in Indigenous cultures before colonization. Critics called out the awkward timing since the so-called 'two spirit' Desjarlais had been rejected by a constituency that voted him out in favor of a rival who representative conservative values. Hundreds of users also mocked the term 'Two-Spirit,' and argued that identity politics have no place in government recognition or celebration. 'I'm happy to see people express their personality anyway they like. But 'two spirit' is a term invented and popularized in the 20th century by (mostly white) academics. Trudeau's 24/7 genderwang shtick has left the building, so please spare us this fake history & new age spiritualism' one wrote. The term was reportedly first created at the Third Annual Intertribal Native American, First Nations, Gay and Lesbian American Conference in Winnipeg, Manitoba, in 1990. While some see it as historically grounded, others have accused the term of being vague, confusing, or politically motivated by modern gender activists who use it as a catch-all label. 'Fake bs made up term that had zero basis in reality or history. Such scammers and cons. You won't be viewed positively by those who will look back on this time of insanity in our species,' another angry user commented. 'Two spirits is a medical diagnosis of schizophrenia,' a user joked. 'I've never understood why sexual orientation has anything to do with anything other than your personal sex life,' another wrote. 'I'm hetro, but don't have to parade half naked down the street to celebrate it or announce it on social media.' 'It's personal and I don't feel the need to broadcast it to the whole world. It has nothing to do with ones ability to perform in capacity. How about we get back to celebrating competence for a change!' Desjarlais made headlines in 2021 when he defeated long-time conservative Kerry Diotte by a margin of just 1,500 votes, successfully flipping Edmonton Griesbach from blue to orange. He campaigned on healthcare expansion and Indigenous rights. This time around, however, the tables turned. Diotte had a comeback in the 2025 race, clinching 46.5 percent of the vote to Desjarlais' 32 percent.
CBC
16-05-2025
- CBC
Cambrian College employee on leave following 'prentendian' allegations
Social Sharing Cambrian College, in Sudbury, Ont., alerted all of its employees in an email sent on Thursday night that an employee is on leave following allegations they are a "pretendian." A pretendian is a person who falsely claims Indigenous identity. "We take these concerns seriously and are looking into the matter," Cambrian College spokesperson Dan Lessard said in an email to CBC News. "We also acknowledge the importance of ensuring respectful and accurate representation of Indigenous identities within our community." Lessard said the college has started Indigenous-led discussions to develop a verification process for Indigenous identity. "This process will have respect and care at its core, and we remain committed to working in partnership with Indigenous communities to ensure a thoughtful and accountable process," he said in the email. Cambrian says its top priority is to support students and staff following the allegations. Cambrian has not released the employee's name and Lessard said the college cannot share further details at this time out of respect for the privacy of those involved. In an all-staff email obtained by CBC, Cambrian College president Kristine Morrissey acknowledged that the "process of Indigenous verification is very new to the college sector in Ontario." "A provincial-level exercise is underway," she wrote.
