The ongoing issue of Indigenous identity fraud in higher ed and potential solutions

A recent article from SaskToday highlights the ongoing issue of Indigenous identity fraud in Canadian postsecondary education, the motivations behind this behaviour, and the solutions being discussed by leaders. Dr Jacqueline Ottmann, President of the First Nations University Canada and Co-Chair of the National Indigenous University Senior Leaders’ Association (NIUSLA), explained that people may falsely claim Indigenous ancestry for material gain or to attain a sense of collective identity. Ottman urged universities to actively seek input from local Indigenous communities in their attempts to respond to this ongoing issue. Looking to the future, Ottmann said that NIUSLA is working to establish a set of principles to help organizations minimize issues of Indigenous identity fraud.