A federal memo has revealed that job applicants in the public service who claim to be indigenous are not required to provide proof of identity, prompting a review of current policies amid concerns over fraudulent declarations.Blacklock's Reporter says according to the Public Service Commission’s New President Briefing Binder, applicants who self-identify as First Nations, Métis, or Inuit must only sign a one-page form affirming their identity. “There is no policy requirement for additional proof of indigenous identity unless it is required as part of an investigation into an allegation of false claim,” the memo stated. While the Commission does not verify Indigenous status, it may investigate if misleading information is suspected..The commission introduced a revised self-identification form in 2022 after consultations showed support for the system as a way to acknowledge the uniqueness of Indigenous identity and discourage false declarations. The memo acknowledged fakery was an issue but did not specify how many false claims had been uncovered.Officials said they plan to continue reviewing the use of the form in collaboration with indigenous groups to ensure the system remains appropriate and aligns with reconciliation efforts.Data filed under the Employment Equity Act shows 19,621 federal employees currently self-identify as indigenous..The memo follows testimony at a Commons government operations committee hearing last September, where concerns were raised about contractors falsely claiming indigenous status to access a 5% set-aside in federal contracts. The set-aside represents part of the $34 billion in annual federal procurement reserved for businesses majority-owned by First Nations, Métis, or Inuit. Roughly 2,600 contractors are listed in the Indigenous Business Directory, but there is no formal verification process in place..“There is no verification,” testified New Brunswick Regional Chief Joanna Bernard.“Anybody can walk in the door and say, ‘I’m Inuit,’ ‘I’m Métis’ or ‘I’m First Nation’ without any verification.”Bernard also warned of so-called “token Indians” used by companies to falsely qualify for set-asides without meaningful Indigenous involvement.“This is huge,” said Bernard, emphasizing the need for stronger oversight to ensure legitimate Indigenous ownership and participation.
