Concerns over rush for Indigenous hires at universities

CBC News 11 May 2019

To meet the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call to action to close employment gaps between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians, some universities are creating new positions in their departments, but some fear the rapid push for Indigenous hires is leading to missteps – from bringing on scholars before they are academically qualified, to concerns that those with no connection to an Indigenous community will take spots reserved for those who do, writes Angela Sterritt for CBC News.

Linc Kesler, an associate professor of English and Indigenous studies at the University of British Columbia (UBC) in Vancouver, agrees it is important for academic institutions to ensure they are hiring Indigenous people with a genuine connection to their community. "We are focused very clearly around requirements of being able to work with communities with an understanding of community issues," he said.

Like most universities, UBC doesn't require students to provide any confirmation of Indigeneity other than a voluntary letter of self-declaration. However, some institutions like Vancouver Island University – which is currently working on a strategy for creating an Indigenous position – have advisory committees to guide the process.
Full report on the CBC News site

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