Since Gray Owl a century in the past, individuals of European descent have falsely claimed to be Indigenous for private acquire or a way of absolution, however one Métis authorized professional says it will take a psychiatrist to attempt to totally reply, “why?”
“It does boggle my mind, how do you retain all these lies, balls up within the air, for many years,” stated Jean Teillet, a Vancouver-based lawyer who wrote a report for the College of Saskatchewan final yr exploring Indigenous establish fraud.
“What a tangled internet we weave, when first we practise to deceive … that is what occurs. They get tousled in their very own tales,” stated Teillet, who’s the great-grandniece of famed Métis chief Louis Riel.
Teillet’s report examined the hurt brought on by Indigenous identity fraud, outlined pink flags for recognizing potential deceit and steered measures to forestall it.
It got here within the wake of a collection of controversies over claims of Indigenous id by distinguished members of Canadian tutorial, literary and leisure circles lately. The report was launched in October, simply because the CBC revealed an investigation into claims of Cree heritage by Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, a former choose, professor and B.C. consultant for youngsters and youth.
It isn’t a brand new phenomenon, although, Teillet’s report says, pointing to Archibald Stansfield Belaney, a British-born man who claimed his mom was Indigenous and referred to as himself Gray Owl, rising to fame as a author and environmentalist whereas dwelling in Canada within the Nineteen Twenties and ’30s.
Teillet stated she sees Indigenous id fraud as “the final word step in colonialism.”
What individuals are studying
She stated it undermines what it means to be Indigenous, after two centuries of presidency insurance policies geared toward curbing Indigenous rights and stamping out Indigenous languages and cultures.
“I believe there are individuals who use (false Indigenous id) to make themselves not really feel just like the colonizer, so you are not the unhealthy man,” stated Teillet.
Her report cites College of Alberta scholar Kim TallBear, who calls false Indigenous claims “a closing act of theft in a protracted historical past of a number of layers and techniques of theft.”
Indigenous id fraud ‘the final word step in colonialism,’ Métis lawyer says. #Indigenous #IndigenousIdentityFraud #IndigenousIdentity
Such id fraud is akin to violence, Teillet stated.
“It isn’t (violence) that leaves you with bodily bruises. But it surely bruises the group, since you’re taking. It is what colonialism does, it takes and it takes … That is what they’re doing once they’re assuming these sorts of identities.”
The time period “pretendian” making the rounds is intelligent, Teillet stated, “however, to my thoughts, ‘fake’ makes it too harmless … It makes it troublesome to see the hurt.”
Teillet stated id fraudsters play into stereotypes about Indigenous Peoples and get away with it partially as a result of Canadians typically aren’t educated in regards to the range and complexity of Indigenous id and tradition throughout the nation.
“It’s no accident that Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond and Carrie Bourassa simply pulled out all these tropes about trauma and addictions and violence within the household,” she stated, referring latterly to a former well being professor who resigned from the College of Saskatchewan amid questions on her Indigenous id final yr.
“That is what Canadians take into consideration Indigenous individuals, so that they play us, proper?”
What Canadians needs to be asking, Teillet stated, is “why do (we) purchase into it?”
Along with reliance on stereotypes, Teillet’s report says pink flags embrace imprecise claims, household secrets and techniques, shifting or conflicting tales, or reliance on DNA testing to seek out some sort of Indigenous ancestry relationship again a number of hundred years in the past.
Teillet is assured the current revelations of false id are “simply the tip of the iceberg” in Canadian universities, authorities and different establishments, she provides.
“We’re ready for the subsequent exposé about some high-level authorities one who’s additionally a faux … As a result of they’re there, in all probability by the a whole lot, if not the hundreds.”
Canadian establishments typically lack and should set up procedures for verifying Indigenous id, Teillet stated, beginning with a “massive signal” on all of their utility kinds for grants, scholarships, school and workers positions saying “we’ll test.”
“The minute individuals know that their declare to be Indigenous goes to be scrutinized … that alone goes to cease loads of the fraud, I believe.”
Establishments should additionally introduce insurance policies establishing processes and penalties for potential fraudsters already embedded of their positions, she added.
It feels unfair, as a result of verification places the onus and scrutiny on Indigenous individuals, Teillet stated, however one thing should be finished to stem the tide of fraud.
Teillet’s report acknowledges considerations about establishing “id police.”
For instance, fraudsters shouldn’t be confused with individuals searching for to reconnect with their Indigenous ancestry after shedding connection because of authorities insurance policies.
Teillet’s report stated establishments ought to take heed to Indigenous Peoples when transferring past self-identification as the usual for establishing Indigenous identity, which might contain constructing relationships with communities, recognizing the data of elders and establishing Indigenous professional panels.
This report by The Canadian Press was first revealed Jan. 25, 2023.
