Indigenous Students Confirmation

1. Introduction and Purpose

The purpose of this policy is to:

• establish a consistent, respectful, and transparent process for confirming Indigenous identity for students seeking access to designated supports.
• safeguard the integrity of Indigenous-specific resources by ensuring they are accessed by students with confirmed Indigenous identity.
• prevent harm caused by fraudulent claims of Indigeneity.
• support students who are in the process of confirming their identity or reconnecting with their Indigenous community.

The policy is not intended to determine Indigenous identity but to describe a process to enable Loyalist College to ensure that benefits go to an Indigenous student who has met the evidentiary criteria necessary. This policy will be administered with care, compassion, and respect, in partnership with Indigenous advisors and Knowledge Keepers where appropriate, to honour each student’s journey and uphold the rights and protocols of Indigenous nations.

2. Application

This policy applies to:

• All registered students who have applied for, or are being considered for, resources and services designated for Indigenous students
• Indigenous applicants seeking a tuition fee exception, scholarship, award, bursary, or other financial consideration

3. Definitions

• 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.
• Tuition Fee Exception. Students who are verified members of Indigenous nations in the United States of America will be assessed domestic tuition fees, in honour of the Jay Treaty of 1794.

4. Policy

Loyalist College is committed to fostering culturally safe, respectful, and supportive learning environments for Indigenous students. In alignment with its broader commitments to equity, reconciliation, and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action, the college will allocate resources, services, and opportunities intended for Indigenous students appropriately and responsibly by confirming Indigenous citizenship as outlined in IIR 101 Indigenous Confirmation of Students Procedure.

The college acknowledges that educational supports for Indigenous students are one way to address systemic inequities rooted in colonialism and to honour the unique rights and identities of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples in Canada. Loyalist College also affirms the sovereign and inherent right of Indigenous nations and communities to determine their own citizenship.

Those wishing to self-identify as Indigenous without undertaking the citizenship confirmation process, and non-Indigenous students who have either Indigenous children or an Indigenous spouse are welcome to access resources, providing they are not financial in nature.

5. Confidentiality

Loyalist College recognizes that the privacy of the individuals affected by this policy and the associated procedure is of the utmost importance. The college will ensure that it will safeguard personal information with care and discretion according to the principles of OCAP. Personal and sensitive information will not be retained or shared unless necessary.

6. Related Documents

• IIR 101 Indigenous Confirmation of Students Procedure
• IIR 101 Appendix A Indigenous Confirmation Email Template
• IIR 101 Appendix B Indigenous Citizenship Inconclusive Email Template

7. References

• Jay Treaty of 1794
• Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action