Indigenous Identity Fraud: The Disturbing Case of An Emerging Trend

In recent years, high-profile cases of individuals falsely claiming Indigenous ancestry have emerged drawing public attention to a troubling phenomenon. The most notorious among these cases is that of award-winning singer Buffy Sainte-Marie, who for decades profited from a fabricated Indigenous identity. 

More recently, other high-profile cases have surfaced, such as the case of twins from Toronto whose mother forged documents, claiming Inuit ancestry, to reap over $150,000 in scholarships reserved for Indigenous people.  

Locally, it was revealed that a professor at the University of Winnipeg, whose research focused on Indigenous art curation, had falsified her Métis identity – with the Manitoba Métis Federation later confirming that they had no record of her in their system. Throughout her career she had amassed over $18 million in grants toward her research, many of which were reserved for Indigenous researchers.  

Importantly, cases like these are not isolated incidents but rather part of an emerging trend of individuals falsely claiming Indigenous ancestry to access scholarships, grants, jobs, and other resources reserved for Indigenous peoples. Although the number of reported cases has been growing, the practice is not new and has been ongoing for decades.

This practice, referred to as “Indigenous identity fraud,” exploits systems designed to address historical injustices and causes deep harm to Indigenous communities. It not only deprives Indigenous peoples of crucial resources but encourages deceit while further commodifying Indigenous identity. 

For Indigenous peoples, identity is not a self-declared label but is instead grounded in ancestry, kinship, community recognition, and lived experience, among other things. Yet, as the evidence unfolds of multiple individuals fraudulently claiming Indigenous ancestry, these systems remain vulnerable to abuse. 

Every dollar misappropriated reduces vital resources for Indigenous individuals struggling against the enduring legacies of colonialism, residential schools, and economic marginalization. Beyond finances, it erodes trust between Indigenous communities and institutions striving for reconciliation. 

The issue is further complicated by persistent stereotypes about how Indigenous people ‘ought’ to appear. Many Indigenous individuals have fair skin due to mixed ancestry, yet their identity is no less valid.  

Speaking about this challenge, Indigenous Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Renee Greyeyes said, “like many fair-skinned Indigenous people, I have had to defend my identity to others who expect Indigeneity to look a certain way.”

Those who seek to exploit Indigenous identity not only deprive Indigenous peoples of their resources, but cast suspicion on all Indigenous peoples, particularly those who often do not fall within certain stereotypes. This erasure forces many Indigenous individuals to constantly prove their authenticity, adding another burden to the many layers of challenges Indigenous people face. 

As such, it is important that our institutions, which often rely on self-identification and remain vulnerable to exploitation, develop rigorous measures to address fraudulent identity claims.  

The fight against Indigenous identity fraud is not about exclusion, it is about justice. It is about ensuring that opportunities meant to heal historical wounds go to those who truly deserve them.