Individuals steal Indigenous identity for financial gain
Photo: Jacklien Harash
Individuals are falsely claiming Indigenous status to gain access to benefits, diverting resources intended to help actual Indigenous communities and raising serious concerns about verification and accountability according to a relative in residence at the kihew waciston centre, also known as KW.
“These issues have been going on forever, not because Native people get free stuff. We do not get free stuff. That is just a stereotype,” Megan Alexis, a relative in residence at the Indigenous center, said. “People over the decades who claim to be Indigenous, but are not, found a loophole, to gain the little resources that we have, the little land rights that we have.”
People claim Indigenous history and identity to access those resources.
She referred to an investigation by Danielle Paradis and APTN about two Toronto sisters who pretended to be Inuit and received tens of thousands of dollars in scholarship money.
Tessa Bell, an Indigenous student at the University of Alberta, said the biggest motivation for individuals to commit identity fraud is money.
“And because our people are a trend, we see that more non-Indigenous people try to gain fame through singing about our traumas,” Alexis said.
Regulations allow individuals to self-identify as part of a First Nation, Métis, or Inuit group without needing proof at institutions like MacEwan University; proof is only required for grants, scholarships, or bursaries, Alexis stated.
This situation affects the Indigenous community significantly, not only people stealing resources that a true Indigenous person could use for healing, trying to change with the youth, trying to bring out a different point of view, and teaching people. Now there will be a shield up where everything they are going to be doing, even though they are the real Indigenous people, they are going to be questioned, Alexis added.
This is such a well-written and thoughtful piece. It highlights an incredibly important issue with clarity and care, giving a voice to those affected and shedding light on the injustices faced by Indigenous communities. Thank you for bringing attention to this topic and amplifying the voices of Megan Alexis and Tessa Bell. Your work fosters understanding and helps drive the much-needed conversation about accountability and respect for Indigenous identities. Keep up the amazing work!