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Incident involving Vianne Timmons is latest high-profile case of apparent cultural identity fraud:
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/mar/15/vianne-timmons-canadian-university-president-indigenous-claim
MUN president Vianne Timmons apologizes, takes temporary leave, as Mi'kmaw claims scrutinized
Board of regents striking Indigenous roundtable to discuss issue
Ariana Kelland · CBC News · Posted: Mar 13, 2023 7:58 AM EDT | Last Updated: March 13, 2023
Memorial University president steps aside in latest 'pretendian' Indigenous controversy
Vianne Timmons has often cited Mi’kmaw ancestry in her CV and official bios, but a CBC probe was unable to find any evidence of an Indigenous ancestor
Author of the article:By Tristin Hopper _ Published Mar 15, 2023
Vianne Timmons removed as president of Memorial University
Board of regents made announcement Thursday afternoon in MUN's Gazette
Ariana Kelland · CBC News · Posted: Apr 06, 2023 11:46 AM EDT | Last Updated: April 7, 2023
VIANNE TIMMONS: 'These have been very difficult weeks' — former Memorial University president speaks out about firing
'I had never imagined that my 32 years of university administration would end like this'
Author of the article:Contributed, PNI Atlantic — Published Apr 28, 2023 • Last updated Apr 28, 2023
Walking the line
For years, Vianne Timmons claimed on her CV and professional bios that she was a member of an unrecognized Mi’kmaw band. She says it didn’t open any doors for her. — By Ariana Kelland and Katie Breen — Mar. 8, 2023
On Feb. 22, 2019, Vianne Timmons walked onto stage holding an eagle feather — gifted by a student — with her newly awarded Indspire trophy resting against her hip.
“I’m sad that I wasn’t raised knowing it but excited that I have the opportunity to learn more and ... my father did not have that opportunity.”
The president of Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador says she has always been careful to make the distinction that she has Mi’kmaw heritage but is not Indigenous — despite accepting an honour that Indspire calls one of the most prestigious awards by Indigenous people, for Indigenous people.
In the past, she has publicly aligned herself with Bras d’Or Mi’kmaq First Nation, an unrecognized band. The membership was cited repeatedly in her CV and biographies for multiple appointments, including a national advisory board.
Now a CBC News investigation is raising questions about the clarity of her claims, the amount of research the top academic has done herself about her ancestry, and what doors — if any — have been opened for her as a result.
Buffy Sainte-Marie stripped of prestigious Canadian honor — FEBRUARY 8, 20255:15 PM ET
The Canadian government has stripped Buffy Sainte-Marie of one of the country's highest honors, after a 2023 news report found she had fabricated claims of Indigenous ancestry.
The Oscar-winning singer's Order of Canada termination was publicly shared on Saturday in the Canadian government's official online publication, the Canada Gazette. Canada's governor general, Mary Simon, signed off on the action on Jan. 3, according to the notice.
In an email to NPR, a representative from Simon's office said the governor general "does not comment on the specifics of termination cases."
But the government's termination policy states its decisions are, "based on evidence and guided by the principle of fairness and shall only be made after the Council has ascertained the facts it considers relevant."
See also: https://liberalarts.utexas.edu/anthropology/faculty/sturmcd
My Initial Response to TAAF:
A week ago, I received a letter of accusation from the TAAF. I responded on the morning of February 6th with the letter linked below. I am still reviewing the allegations they have publicly made against me and will respond in full once I have an opportunity to do so. In the meantime, I wish to note that there are several errors, including in their genealogical research of my paternal grandmother’s line.
TAAF Letter to Circe Sturm 2-4-25.docx
Response to TAAF 2025-02-05.pdf
-Circe Sturm, February 14, 2025
The big problem is when a professor or scholar claims to speak as an insider when they are not. Her response:
I'm trying to figure out why Kreal is here at all. Other than being a critic of TAAF.
Hello all. This is Lianna Costantino. I believe that "WhittierDeluxe28789" is either Michael Kreal, Amy Marie Clark, or one of their cronies, all of whom are upset because Michael was outed as a pretendian here and with AIM, who were not impressed with him:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/559486661590455
I am indeed a co-founder and the current director of TAAF, the Tribal Alliance Against Frauds, an intertribal anti-fraud task force.
Amy Marie Clarke is obsessed with me and is still stalking and harassing me.
I received information in a lengthy newsletter from Kim TallBear (Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate citizen), Professor, Faculty of Native Studies, University of Alberta titled 'Statement on the TAAF Self-indigenization Investigation of Anthropologist Circe Sturm'.
Does anyone else think we should move this to Archives? Or even Non Frauds?
