Indigenous Identity Fraud Summit opens with denunciations, statements of solidarity

First Nations, Inuit and Red River Métis leadership united Tuesday morning in Winnipeg to cement their alliance against what they call Indigenous identity fraud, which they say threatens their very existence as distinct peoples.

The two-day summit co-hosted by Chiefs of Ontario (COO) and Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) opened with denunciations and solidarity at the Fort Garry Hotel in Manitoba's capital.

David Chartrand, president of MMF, said in an opening statement on Tuesday, "We will stand with you, we will fight with you, and we'll defend with you your home — as we hope you defend ours."

The summit is part of a push to call out the alleged collective misappropriation of their identities. The meeting is expected to yield at least one resolution concerning the phenomenon, sometimes also called ethnic fraud or race shifting.

Delegates described themselves as inhabiting a new era where their Indigenous identities are no longer persecuted and ridiculed, but celebrated and aggressively pursued by settlers who stand to gain.

"It was not that long ago that Canada told us that being a First Nations person is a bad thing," said Glen Hare, Ontario regional chief elected by COO, which advocates for 133 First Nations in Ontario.

"Now that the tables have turned, this identity theft is becoming more and more common. We are seeing politicians, bureaucrats, lawyers, academics, artists and many others suddenly identifying as Indigenous, Algonquin, Métis and Inuit — all to advance their careers and gain access to opportunities meant for Indigenous peoples."

The event sparked disappointment from groups either excluded from the meeting or on the receiving end of the criticism.

The Métis Nation of Ontario (MNO), one of four governing members of the Métis National Council (MNC) advocacy organization, is COO and MMF's chief target.

In a Tuesday news release, MNO pointed to the Supreme Court of Canada's landmark 2003 Powley decision, which unanimously affirmed the existence of Métis harvesting rights in and around Sault Ste. Marie, Ont.

"Indigenous identity fraud is a serious issue that requires serious solutions. The MNO shares the MMF's and COO's concerns on this issue," the statement said.

"But Indigenous peoples only lose when we fight amongst ourselves and approach self-determination as a zero-sum game. The only winners are colonial governments who find further reason to ignore our inherent rights and stand idly by."

MNO expressed disappointment at its exclusion from the summit after President Margaret Froh's request to present to the delegates went unanswered. Froh sent a letter to Chartrand on May 2 seeking inclusion in the summit, writing "it has been far too long since we have spoken."

The Métis Nation is typically associated with the Prairies, but Sault Ste. Marie is in the upper Great Lakes, several hundred kilometres east.