Renowned Indigenous scholar Cindy Blackstock says she is convinced fellow scholar Dr Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond lied about her Cree ancestry.
Her statement comes following a CBC investigation which uncovered the birth certificate of Turpel-Lafond’s father.
For decades, Turpel-Lafond has claimed that her father was a Cree child from the Norway House Nation in Manitoba, adopted by her European grandparents.
But, the birth certificate clearly shows that he was born in Victoria to two parents of British descent, the same pair Turpel-Lafond says adopted him.
When that article came out, many organizations, such as the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, came forward to defend her, citing the work she’s done for Indigenous rights.
But, Blackstock now says she has enough evidence to join the other side of the debate, saying that the false claims harm those trying to reclaim their lost identities.
Many have also denounced Turpel-Lafond for taking opportunities that may have otherwise gone to other Indigenous scholars.
