Memorial University won't recognize NunatuKavut in new Indigenous verification policy

Abby Cole · CBC News

· Posted: Apr 22, 2025 9:40 AM EDT | Last Updated: 1 hr ago

The NunatuKavut Community Council says its consenting to fight against Memorial University for leaving the group out of its new Indigenous verification policy. 

NunatuKavut president Todd Russell says the draft policy was written "so that NunatuKavut Inuit would beryllium fundamentally erased arsenic an Indigenous people."

NunatuKavut represents 6,000 self-identifying Inuit successful southbound and cardinal Labrador. The group, which identified itself arsenic the Labrador Métis Nation until 2010, is not recognized Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, the nationalist typical enactment for the Inuit successful Canada.

Russell says he's not shocked by MUN's decision. He says the assemblage informed him that NunatuKavut would beryllium excluded from consultations with Indigenous groups. 

The new policy draught comes aft erstwhile assemblage president Vianne Timmons was removed for claiming to beryllium portion of an unrecognized Mi'kmaq set for years. 

Now, the assemblage volition necessitate Indigenous students and module to verify their Indigenous individuality to entree grants, scholarships and jobs. Self-declaration is nary longer capable for obtaining Indigenous opportunities.  

A committee volition look astatine an applicant's authoritative documentation oregon a connection of relationality and a missive from an authoritative typical from a recognized Indigenous corporate successful Canada. The collectives indispensable beryllium recognized nether Section 35 of the Canadian Constitution Act, oregon beryllium recognized arsenic Indigenous by their federally recognized Indigenous neighbours. 

Catharyn Andersen, MUN's vice-president Indigenous, told CBC Radio's On The Go that NunatuKavut wouldn't conscionable the criteria. 

LISTEN | Krissy Holmes speaks with NunatuKavut president astir MUN's caller policy: 

Russell says helium volition beryllium warring the university's determination due to the fact that NunatuKavut has other Indigenous recognition.

"We volition combat successful the halls of Memorial University," said Russell. "We volition inhabit that university."

In 2019, the national authorities signed a memorandum of knowing connected self-determination with NunatuKavut. The MOU outlines some parties' goals to fortify their narration and admit their rights. 

However, it's a non-binding agreement, and doesn't springiness NunatuKavut rights. Instead it outlines the intention to marque a determination successful the future.

But, Russell says the MOU is portion of the process of obtaining Section 35 rights, and that NunatuKavut is on a journey to obtaining them, conscionable arsenic different Indigenous groups person to do. 

Russell besides disagrees with the 2nd enactment to beryllium recognized by Indigenous neighbours, stating that the assemblage should cognize astir the unfavourable dynamics betwixt NunatuKavut and its neighbours similar the Nunatsiavut government. 

"That is lunacy to say that your neighbour really has authorization implicit your rights, your identity," helium said.

Movement against self-identification

Johannes Lampe, president of the Nunatsiavut government, told CBC Radio's Labrador Morning that helium is successful favour of MUN's caller policy. 

"It affirms a rule that Inuit and different Indigenous peoples person ever known," helium said. 

Lampe says the argumentation protects the rights to Indigenous circumstantial opportunities, and volition mean a safer and fairer world situation for Inuit youth. 

"Memorial is showing enactment that we anticipation different institutions volition follow," helium said.

Lampe says the Nunatsiavut authorities volition beryllium providing feedback connected the draught policy. 

Andersen says the consultation that informed the university was led by the First People's Group, an Indigenous advisory firm. 

She says the argumentation is portion of a cross-country Indigenous question to determination beyond Indigenous self-identification. 

"Indigenous radical person been calling for this," she said. 

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