Indigenous Citizenship Declaration (ICD)
Backgrounder
The Office of the Vice-President Indigenous (OVPI) is in the early phases of drafting a policy and developing a process to verify declarations of Indigenous identity, citizenship and membership at UVic where these claims result in material advantages. This policy supports the university’s commitment to respect and verify the ways that Indigenous Nations, Peoples and communities determine their citizenship.
Why 'Citizenship'?
There is no pan-Indigenous legal order and no pan-Indigenous response to questions of Indigenous citizenship. The determination of these questions must always be according to a specific legal order, laws, and legal process. In the article Indigenous Citizenship and Civil Society: An Intervention, Val Napoleon emphasizes the importance of specific legal orders and public, deliberative legal processes in determining Indigenous citizenship, advocating for a nuanced, context-driven approach to governance and citizenship.
Join the conversation
We're committed to ensuring that every voice is heard as we shape the future of our community. Our consultation process will be robust, inclusive and comprehensive, providing various avenues for folks to participate.
From surveys, to in-person and online discussions, and one-on-one consultations, we're dedicated to hearing from everyone. Your unique perspectives, experiences, and ideas are essential in guiding the development of this important process.
PHASE ONE: Share your thoughts and complete the online survey:
https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/8KQX2GV
*deadline for survey submissions is Friday, July 5*
PHASE ONE: In-person engagement sessions
This engagement process is open to all Indigenous members of the UVic community, including: Indigenous students, staff, faculty, librarians, alums and community partners
| Date | Time | Location |
|---|---|---|
| Wednesday, June 19, 2024 | *11:00am-2:00pm | First Peoples House, Ceremonial Hall |
| **Thursday, June 27, 2024 | *11:00am-2:00pm | First Peoples House, Ceremonial Hall |
*Drop-in anytime
**Students and alums are encouraged to attend the session on June 27th.
NOTE: If you are unable to attend these sessions, please note that during PHASE TWO, participants will have an additional opportunity to engage in-person, one-on-one and remotely.
We strongly encourage you to participate in these engagement opportunities. Together, we can ensure that the policy accurately reflects the values and perspectives of our Indigenous community.
Engagement Session Questions
Tables will be set up around the Ceremonial Hall with questions at each station for discussion. Participants can spend as much or as little time at each station.
| Station | Question |
|---|---|
| 1 | What are the potential benefits of developing Indigenous citizenship declaration policy for Indigenous opportunities? What are your concerns? |
| 2 |
What does Indigenous citizenship mean to you? How do Indigenous laws facilitate or recognize citizenship? |
| 3 | What should be included as criteria to demonstrate Indigenous citizenship? |
| 4 | What barriers exist when demonstrating Indigenous citizenship? |
Resources
Members of the ICD Committee have consulted the following resources, and encourage you to review these reports if you're looking to dive deeper into how other universities are engaging with a range of verification and affirmation processes:
ICD Communications
Frequently Asked Questions
No. The Better Data Project will continue to collect demographic information and statistics based on a process of Indigenous self-identification. Information collected through the ICD process will not be used for reporting and strategic planning purposes, nor will it be cross-referenced with personal data collected through the Better Data Project.
Phase 1: An online survey open until June 28 and the option to attend one or both of the in-person engagement sessions (July 19 & July 27).
Phase 2: Rolls out in September and will provide another opportunity for participants to engage via survey, in-person or remotely.
One-on-one sessions: Please email vpiicd@uvic.ca to arrange your one-on-one engagement session.
Material gain refers to a financial, professional or tangible benefit. Opportunities resulting in material gain include, but are not limited to:
- Full-time, part-time, term or continuing employment
- Promotion, appointment and re-appointment
- Salary adjustments or awards
- Collective agreement funds or leaves
- Awards, bursaries and scholarships
- Research or travel grants
- Financial aid
- Reserved seats on committees and governance boards
- Fellowship or apprenticeship opportunities
- Participation in mentorship programs
- Reserved seats in programs or courses
- Reserved spaces in student housing
- Access to Indigenous-specific campus services
If the opportunity is likely to appear as a line on a CV, the opportunity is likely associated with material gain.
The ICD Committee is currently leading a multi-phased engagement process with the goal of drafting a policy for approval in Summer 2025 and implementation in Fall 2025.
Having a broad application through the university and being binding on members of the university community, the ICD policy must be approved through Senate, the Board of Governors and other Approving Authorities in accordance with University Policy No. GV0100. As the Designated Executive Officer, the Vice-President Indigenous is responsible and accountable for policy development, implementation, education, and compliance monitoring.
Please inform candidates or applicants for an Indigenous-specific opportunity that they may be required to complete the ICD process once the policy is drafted and established. While the policy cannot be retroactively applied, the candidate will be required to complete the ICD process should they apply for, or access, future opportunities resulting in material gain.
Further instruction, including specific wording for job postings and offer letters, will be provided over the coming months. Please reach out to vpiicd@uvic.ca if you have specific question or concerns.
UVic currently has approval through the BC's Office of the Human Rights Commissioner to use preferential or limited hiring for Indigenous People. These Indigenous-specific employment opportunities address underrepresentation and bring in the qualified people we need to grow as a university community. For more information, please visit: https://www.uvic.ca/equity/employment-equity/preferential/index.php.
Bursaries, reserved seats and research awards limited or specific to Indigenous People are intended to redress systemic inequities by supporting access, retention, success and recognition in post-secondary institutions.
The ICD Committee is working with University Systems to design a secure web interface for applicants to upload files relevant to verifying their declaration.
The standing of a candidate’s application would be connected with the candidate’s V# through Banner and accessible only to a limited number of staff persons within the Office of the Vice-President Indigenous. Once an applicant is verified through the portal, they will not need to resubmit information or be re-verified to access future Indigenous-specific opportunities.
Recognizing the complex nature of many cases, processes may be designed to support verification beyond the parameters of a portal system.
As we continue to work with University Systems and design a process in consultation with Indigenous members of the UVic community, we will have more information to share in the Winter 2024/25 term.
Terms of Reference
Indigenous Citizenship Declaration (ICD) Commitee
Terms of Reference [Last Updated: March 13, 2024]
Approving Authority: Vice-President Indigenous
Effective Date: January 2024
Context: The University of Victoria’s (UVic) renewed Indigenous Plan (2023) outlines a strong commitment to align the university with Indigenous laws and protocols. This commitment extends to ensuring that the eligibility requirements for opportunities designated for Indigenous People are consistent with the ways that Indigenous Nations, Peoples and communities determine their citizenship.
UVic is one of many post-secondary institutions moving beyond self-identification to a process of verification where preferential and limited selection programs and opportunities are designated for Indigenous applicants and result in material gain.
Purpose: The OVPI has brought together an expanded subcommittee of the Indigenous Strategic Leadership Advisory (ISLA) group with the aim of effectively strategizing an engagement process that brings diverse voices to the table and results in clear policy directions and implementation guidelines.
The Indigenous Citizenship Declaration (ICD) Committee will guide the development of a policy and process that affirms the authority of Indigenous Peoples to determine their citizenship in accordance with their own legal orders and governance structures. Undertaking this work, the ICD Committee will remain responsive to the ways that colonization has impacted determinations and experiences of citizenship.
Guiding Commitments:
- ʔay̓ šqʷeləqʷən | ÍY, ŚḰÁLEȻEN: We bring a good heart and good mind into our work, building relationships based on trust and respect.
- Leʔt šxʷ helə ʔə cə mək̓ʷ sčeʔi səʔ | S,HOL EṮ MEQ EN ENÁ SE SĆȺ: We prepare ourselves for the work ahead with a view towards a future of promise and abundance.
- Humility: We step into a learning position and recognize that this work is ongoing.
- Inclusion & Intersectionality: We bring a diversity of voices to the table, and we recognize in this work the ways that colonization has functioned to undermine Indigenous self-determination and disrupt kinship and family relations.
- Honesty & Dignity: We maintain a respectful environment where all members are encouraged and empowered to communicate disagreements in good faith and bring their whole selves into decision making.
- Transparency: We work with open doors.
- Privacy: We uphold the confidentiality of sensitive disclosures and information, and we work to align data collection and storage with data sovereignty principles.
Objectives:
Meeting twice monthly, the ICD Commitee will determine and guide a cohesive, multi-unit collaborative approach to policy engagement, development and implementation over three phases:
Phase 1: Drafting & Engaging (October 2023 – September 2024)
i. Determine and oversee a process to be carried out by the OVPI for engaging with Indigenous communities, Elders, staff, faculty, students and alumni.
ii. Develop a first draft of an ICD policy in partnership with University Systems and General Counsel, considering the insights of colleagues at other universities.
iii. Identify protocol to be carried out by the OVPI as the university seeks to create and confirm MOUs with BC First Nations, Inuit & Métis governing authorities.
Phase 2: Revising, Finalizing & Approving (September 2024 - February 2025)
i. Review and revise drafts of an ICD policy to align the information and feedback gathered during the engagement process.
ii. Work with University Systems and General Counsel to confirm secure and confidendial procedures, platforms and mechanisms for collecting personal information and affirming eligibility.
iii. Guide the preparation of documents necessary for policy approval through Senate and the Board of Governors.
Phase 3: Implementation & Communicating (February 2025 – September 2025)
i. Determine timelines and communication strategies for policy implementation.
ii. Create working groups to address specific tasks, questions and priorities, collaborating with IACE’s Communications Officer and representatives from Student Affairs, the Office of the Registrar, the Beter Data Project and Human Resources.
iii. Concluding the work of the ICD committee identity membership for a review committee to address concerns and cases as they may arise going forward.
iv. Committee dissolved September 2025.
Membership:
| Role | Contributer |
|---|---|
| Vice-President Indigenous, chair | Qwul’sih’yah’maht, Robina Thomas |
| OVPI, co-chair | Lalita Kines, Director of Indigenous Strategic Priorities and Community Engagement |
| OVPI, Project coordination | Julianna Nielsen, Project Manager |
| OVPI, Project coordination | Candice Work, Project Officer |
| Indigenous faculty member | Val Napoleon |
| Indigenous faculty member | Onowa McIvor |
| Indigenous faculty member | waaseyaa'sin Christine Sy |
| Indigenous faculty member | Niiyokamigaabaw Deondre Smiles |
| Indigenous graduate student | Estrella Whetung |
| Indigenous undergraduate student | Lauren Aimoe, Native Students Union - Firekeeper |
| Indigenous student | Kiana Cardinal-Arcand, Indigenous Law Student Association |
| University Secretary representative | Morag Mochan, Governance Services Manager |
| Faculty Relations representative | Pam Richards, Director, Faculty Relations & Academic Administration |
| Faculty Association representative | Christine O’Bonsawin |
| Human Resources representative | Kane Kilbey, AVP Human Resources |
| Office of the Registrar representative | Wendy Taylor, Acting Registrar |
| Communications, OVPI/IACE | Hannah Mashon, Communications Officer |
For regular committee meetings to proceed, quorum will be met by:
- The Chair or Co-Chair
- 1 project coordinator
- 2 Indigenous faculty members
- Staff representatives necessary for supporting and advising particular conversations.
Resources: Administrative support will be provided by OVPI projects staff.
Timeframe:
- The Terms of Reference for the ICD Committee will be submitted to the Approving Authority by January 10, 2024.
- The ICD Committee will be created by January 30, 2024 and will submit drafts of a ICD policy and process to the Approving Authority by Winter 2024.
- The work of the committee will conclude September 2025.
Contact
If you are interested in learning more about this process and would like to be involved, please let us know by send an email to the OVPI's Indigenous Citizenship Declaration Committee.