Authenticate Indigenous identity
Petitioners ask the House of Commons to enact legislation creating Indigenous-led governance and authentication protocols to address First Nations, Métis and Inuit identity fraud, with enforcement and public education. The government responds that it recognizes Indigenous peoples' right to decide membership and says any legislation would require consultation and partnership.
Why we would sign this petition
- It would protect limited FNMI resources and benefits by making fraudulent claims harder and redirecting support to actual community members.
- It advances Indigenous self-determination by letting First Nations, Métis and Inuit lead membership rules and authentication protocols.
- Combined enforcement and education would help deter cultural appropriation, misuse of heritage, and false claims over time.
Why we wouldn’t sign this petition
- Verifying identity is complex and could wrongly exclude people with disrupted or undocumented ties to their communities.
- Creating new legal frameworks raises constitutional and legal complexities and would require extensive, meaningful consultation and coordination.
- Authentication systems risk privacy concerns, administrative burden and costs, and could have unintended social harms if poorly implemented.
The summary and both sets of reasons are AI-generated from the petition and given equal weight. Claims are the petitioners’ own; consult the official record for the full text.
Official petition
Petition to the House of Commons Indigenous identity fraud of First Nations, Metis, and Inuit (FNMI) Peoples occurs when individuals falsely claim to be an FNMI person and/or of FNMI ancestry for personal gain such as economic resources, research funding, employment, honorary positions, awards, and other benefits intended for FNMI Peoples; False claims of FNMI identity result in limited resources being diverted to individuals who are not FNMI; False claims of FNMI identity contribute to the commodification of FNMI heritage, misrepresentation, cultural appropriation, and false knowledge productions both cultural and intellectual; False claims of FNMI identity undermine the sovereignty of FNMI Peoples by diluting their political representation and decision-making ability; and False claims of FNMI identity have legal and economic ramifications such as intellectual property theft and the acquisition of government contracts and associated funding. We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the House of Commons to: 1. Recognize identity fraud as a form of cultural appropriation and an infringement on the rights of FNMI Peoples; 2. Support the establishment of Indigenous-led governance consisting of FNMI Peoples who will have decision-making capabilities; 3. The FNMI governance is staffed and directed by First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples; 4. The right to self-determination includes the authority of FNMI-led initiatives to develop and implement protocols to authenticate FNMI Identity claims and to define their citizenship and/or membership in addressing FNMI identity fraud; 5. Develop legislation that addresses FNMI identity fraud with clear definitions, mechanisms for enforcement, and legal penalties; and 6. Launch educational initiatives that raise awareness about the harms of identity fraud and promote respectful engagement with FNMI communities. 1. Recognize identity fraud as a form of cultural appropriation and an infringement on the rights of FNMI Peoples; 2. Support the establishment of Indigenous-led governance consisting of FNMI Peoples who will have decision-making capabilities; 3. The FNMI governance is staffed and directed by First Nations, Inuit, and Metis Peoples; 4. The right to self-determination includes the authority of FNMI-led initiatives to develop and implement protocols to authenticate FNMI Identity claims and to define their citizenship and/or membership in addressing FNMI identity fraud; 5. Develop legislation that addresses FNMI identity fraud with clear definitions, mechanisms for enforcement, and legal penalties; and 6. Launch educational initiatives that raise awareness about the harms of identity fraud and promote respectful engagement with FNMI communities.
Government response
Response by the Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations Signed by JAIME BATTISTE The Government of Canada is committed to advancing reconciliation and the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Identity fraud is a serious issue; Indigenous Peoples have the right to not be subjected to destruction of their culture. Indigenous Peoples also have the right to self-determination and to be free from any kind of discrimination based on their Indigenous identity. The Government of Canada is working in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to undo federally imposed systems of governance and administration in favour of Indigenous control and delivery. Canada is working with Indigenous Peoples to support their work to rebuild and reconstitute their nations, advance self-determination and, for First Nations, facilitate the transition away from the Indian Act and toward self-government. First Nation citizenship is still largely determined by the Indian Act. Inuit have control over their own citizenship through land claim agreements. Canada has reached, or is negotiating, treaties with Métis governments with recognized section 35 rights, including control over citizenship. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (Article 33) acknowledges the right of Indigenous Peoples to decide who belongs to their community. The Government’s United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Action Plan includes a measure on First Nation Citizenship: to consult First Nations and other impacted Indigenous groups to support the co-development of opt-in alternatives to Indian Act registration and membership (APM 2.9). The Action Plan also includes a measure that the Government we will also work to address policy, program, and socio-economic gaps, and strengthen interdepartmental and intergovernmental relations, in full partnership with Métis, non-status, off-reserve, and urban Indigenous peoples, consistent with the CAP/Daniels decision (APM 90). Moving forward on a broad initiative for legislation to address First Nations, Métis, and Inuit Peoples identity fraud would require consultation with the Indigenous peoples of Canada. Canada is open to ongoing dialogue on how to address and raise awareness about the harms of Indigenous identity fraud. Understanding Indigenous identity requires acknowledging that many experiences of disconnection stem from colonial systems that fractured families and communities. Recognizing this history enables more inclusive and empathetic approaches to supporting identity renewal and belonging.