| Policy Number: HR 121 | Policy Title: Hiring for Indigenous Designated Positions |
| Supersedes Existing Policy: No | Policy Sponsor: Vice President, HR, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Executive Director, Indigenous Engagement and Applied Research |
| Associated Procedure: Yes | Policy Owner: Vice President, HR, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion and Executive Director, Indigenous Engagement and Applied Research |
| Next Review Date: March 2029 | Date Last Approved by the CET: March 18, 2026 |
| Related Documents and Links |
1. Introduction and Purpose
As Loyalist College works toward establishing culturally safe spaces for Indigenous employees and students in classrooms and on campuses, it is integral that hiring processes for Indigenous specific positions include confirmation of Indigenous citizenship/membership of candidates.
The college is committed to ensuring that Indigenous designated positions maintain their integrity, include authentic Indigenous experiences, and community connections that enlighten and enrich the college.
The purpose of this policy is to
- prevent harm caused by fraudulent claims of Indigeneity.
- establish a consistent, respectful, and transparent process for confirming Indigenous identity when recruiting Indigenous designated positions at Loyalist College.
- safeguard the integrity of Indigenous-specific employment by ensuring they are accessed by individuals with confirmed Indigenous identity.
2. Application
This policy applies to all candidates who are being considered for an Indigenous designated position as well as Faculty who have self-identified as Indigenous under the Job Classification procedure.
3. Definition
Candidate: A person who applies for a job.
Indigenous citizenship: The term “citizenship” is used to describe an individual’s relationship to an Indigenous community. Many Indigenous peoples wish to emphasize their existence as nations. Those who emphasize their nationhood, generally prefer to use the term citizenship. That said, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples uses the term membership. This policy uses “citizenship” to refer to citizenship and membership.
4. Policy Statement
Indigenous communities are recognized as those who have citizenship and authority based on the approval of Indigenous communities of Canada and the Constitution of Canada, from their nation to speak on its behalf and enact its law and ceremonies.
This policy is being put in place to show respect for the Indigenous communities. The policy is to be administered in a loving and caring way so that candidates understand the purpose of the protocol and feel honoured and respected throughout the review process.
The identity verification process will be conducted with short-listed candidates only, prior to the candidates being invited to an interview. An Ad Hoc Indigenous Citizenship Review Committee whose members are employees of the college and members of the Indigenous community will verify an applicant’s indigeneity. If needed and as appropriate, this Committee may consult with external members of the Indigenous community.
6. References
- United Nations – Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Voices
- FNUC Report, Indigenous
- Voices on Indigenous Identity; Queen’s University; University of Saskatchewan
- Constitution Act, 1982