ST JOHN’S, NL – The Innu Nation has launched a campaign aimed at Memorial University’s draft Indigenous Verification policy which was released in April 2025 and is expected to be voted upon by the Board of Regents before the end of December.
Named, Indigenous Spaces for Indigenous Peoples, the campaign was announced at the national conference of the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) in Winnipeg, Manitoba on September 4, 2025.
The Innu Nation feel that those without legally recognized Indigenous status are taking positions and rights meant for legally recognized Indigenous people and organizations. This has been a problem at Memorial University in recent years and the Innu hope the new policy will pass in-order to prevent it from happening again in the future.
The policy, if adopted, would address the growing problem of organizational Indigenous identity fraud while maintaining sensitivity towards individuals disconnected from legitimate Indigenous groups as a result of colonial policies like the Sixties Scoop.
The Innu Nation campaign is squarely aimed at The NunatuKavut Community Council (NCC) of southern Labrador which has been campaigning to prevent MUN’s policy from being passed by the MUN Board of Regents. Innu Nation say if the NCC succeeds, it will set a precedent that groups making false claims to be Indigenous can bully their way into spaces meant for legitimate Indigenous peoples and divert money and resources from those they were meant.
The presence of these individuals and groups in spaces meant for Indigenous peoples also means even more barriers to education for First Nations’ youth, including fewer opportunities and scholarship funding.
The NCC are not recognized by the Government of Canada under Section 35 of the Constitution which defines recognition and rights of Indigenous people in Canada. Nor ar they recognized by their neighbouring Indigenous groups.
Verification policies at universities are needed to protect the rights and well-being of recognized First Nations said the Innu Nation in their document.
The Innu Nation, through this campaign, is seeking the support of First Nations across Canada and all people, whether Indigenous or non-Indigenous to join them in their efforts to support Memorial University to help ensure that Indigenous spaces are protected for Indigenous peoples.
They have a website where people and organizations can write to Memorial University’s Board of Regents
The Innu Nation are a First Nations government organization representing the federally recognized Innu communities of Sheshatshiu Innu First Nations in Sheshatshiu, Labrador and Mushuau Innu First Nations in Natuashish, Labrador or Nitassinan. The traditional territory of the Innu.
