ST. JOHN'S, N.L. — Memorial University has hired consultants to advise the school on Indigenous verification eight months after it was embroiled in a controversy over First Nations ancestry.
On April 6 the university in Newfoundland and Labrador removed president Vianne Timmons from her role after she faced weeks of scrutiny about her claims of Indigenous heritage.
The move came after CBC News raised questions about Timmons's claims that her father's great-great-grandmother was Mi’kmaq, which prompted Timmons to issue an apology.
Memorial has since confirmed it has hired First Peoples Group to prepare and plan for consultations with Indigenous leaders, Indigenous organizations, faculty, staff and students.
The Ottawa-based company describes itself as a certified Aboriginal business that offers training, facilitation and relationship-building services.
The university says the consultations will take place in winter 2024 and First Peoples Group is expected to produce a final report with recommendations in April 2024.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 7, 2023.
The Canadian Press
