'Growing tension' inside the public service over Indigenous self-identification

Indigenous Services Canada's top official addressed the "contentious issue" of Indigenous identity in the public service by urging greater honesty in self-identification, in a recent internal blog leaked to CBC Indigenous.

"The key is to honestly tell your truth," wrote deputy minister Gina Wilson in the blog, which was circulated internally June 13.

Her post followed efforts by First Nations, Inuit and Métis leaders to draw attention to the issue, including by demanding governments act to halt the rise of Indigenous identity theft. 

Other sectors like academia and the arts have faced reckonings and controversies, but race-shifting, as the phenomenon is sometimes known, in the bureaucracy has largely escaped scrutiny. 

Wilson is from Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg, an Algonquin community in Quebec, and has served in numerous executive posts in government including as the deputy minister champion for Indigenous federal employees.

In the blog, she acknowledged the challenge posed by false Indigenous identity claims and reminded staff of their commitment to prevent misrepresentation.

"This is a challenge that can be addressed, in part, by raising awareness and encouraging those who might falsely claim to be Indigenous to find their own authentic identity," reads the blog.

Her decision to address the issue signals "a growing tension" around the lack of identity verification in government, which greatly impacts authentic Indigenous staff, says one elder who has worked extensively with Indigenous bureaucrats.

"People are getting hurt and hurt very badly to the point where they might become demoralized," said Mac Saulis, a Tobique First Nation member who lives in Ottawa.

Saulis is Wolastoqew and formerly worked at the Kumik Elder Lodge, which was installed at the Indigenous Affairs headquarters in Gatineau, Que., in 1990.

"The most sinister thing" about the current system is not just that people with dubious claims can benefit professionally, he said, but that they can land positions of high authority and influence, just by checking a box.

"The government counts on these people being authentic — that they have a grasp and a knowledge of issues — so they trust them a lot," he said.

McGill University associate professor Veldon Coburn agreed.

"It is demoralizing sitting there when you see somebody claim to be your identity, or at least your national First Nation identity, and they're not part of it," said Coburn, a member of the Algonquins of Pikwàkanagàn near Golden Lake, Ont.