Two Dalhousie University law professors have raised their concerns about Dal’s proposed process for verifying Indigenous identity. Last month, a Dal task force recommended that the university implement a process through which people would submit federally issued status cards or written confirmation to verify their Indigenous identity. However, a recent report examining the legality of the proposed policy–authored by Indigenous faculty members Cheryl Simon and Naiomi Metallic–states that this process runs the risk of excluding people who have legitimate claims to Indigeneity, but who do not have federal recognition. Simon and Metallic assert that Dal already has the tools at its disposal to prevent Indigenous identity theft and fraud and that no new process is necessary. In a public statement, Dal Provost Dean Harvey indicates that the consultation process will continue over the coming months.
