MUN Indigenous verification policy approved by Board of Regents
Memorial University’s Board of Regents approved an Indigenous Verification Policy this afternoon.
The policy was developed by and with Indigenous communities and affirms that opportunities intended for Indigenous people must be held by Indigenous people, and that the responsibility for determining eligibility for these opportunities lies with recognized Indigenous collectives, not the university.
“The Board is proud to affirm the work of Indigenous leaders and communities who shaped this policy,” said Board of Regents Chair, Justin Ladha. “It provides the clarity, integrity and community-based decision making that our university needs as we continue to strengthen trust and accountability.”
Multiple pathways for verification
Indigenous collectives are shaped by diverse histories, legal frameworks, and governance structures. That complexity requires care and flexibility, so the policy has multiple pathways to verification – making it one of the most comprehensive sets of verification pathways available across post-secondary institutions in Canada. Under the policy, an applicant will follow one of three verification pathways for membership/citizenship with a recognized Indigenous collective in Canada:
- Pathway A requires the applicant to confirm their connection to a recognized Indigenous collective through the submission of primary documentation;
- Pathway B requires the applicant to confirm their connection to a recognized Indigenous collective through the submission of secondary documentation;
- Pathway C is reserved for specific incidents of displacement resulting from assimilationist policies and practices of colonial institutions.