deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin
Indigenous Truth Policy on Indigenous citizenship/membership
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Please enter with respect and a good heart.
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deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin: Indigenous Truth
The name of this policy means truth – truth to self, truth to each other, truth to the ancestors and truth to the land. The intent of deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin (Saulteaux, Michif, Cree) is to protect Indigenous truth and space for everyone.
The University of Saskatchewan’s deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin policy provides a framework for the implementation of Indigenous membership/citizenship verification with documentation. The University of Saskatchewan is committed to safeguarding the cultures and integrity of Indigenous peoples, Indigenous values, and Indigenous languages within the university.
Verification with documentation can take many forms. These will be defined by Indigenous governments and conveyed to the deybwewin | tapwewin | taapwaywin Standing Committee. Examples of verification with documentation can be, and are not limited to, a letter from a community’s governance body, an Indigenous government-issued membership or citizenship card, or a status card issued by Indigenous Services Canada.
In situations where Indigenous government-approved documentation is not available, the deybwewin | tapwewin | taapwaywin Standing Committee will guide and support the individual and the university through a verification process.
The deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin policy was developed by an Indigenous led and informed taskforce that included Elders, Knowledge Keepers, cultural advisors, faculty, staff, students, and community members. This policy provides a framework for the implementation of Indigenous membership/citizenship verification with documentation at USask to safeguard the cultures and integrity of Indigenous peoples, Indigenous values, and Indigenous languages at USask. The policy ensures that material gain is provided to those it is meant for, and to protect Indigenous truth and space at USask.
Types of Approved Documents
It is the sovereign and inherit right of Indigenous governments to determine the membership/citizenship of their communities. The University of Saskatchewan recognizes and honours this sovereign right through the verification process. Documentation is determined and defined by Indigenous governments and conveyed to the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin Standing Committee.
Below is a list of approved verification document types for for Inuit, Métis, First Nations, and international students, staff, faculty, and other members of the University of Saskatchewan.
All documentation must be current and up-to-date.
Membership of one the four collectives defined by the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami (ITK) from Section 1.4 of the Inuit Nunangat Policy, C-IRNAC):
- The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (Inuvialuit Final Agreement)
- Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (Nunavut Agreement)
- Makivvik (James Bay and Northern Quebec Agreement, Nunavik Inuit Land Claims Agreement)
- The Nunatsiavut Government (Labrador Inuit Land Claims Agreement)
- Letter from Métis Nation-Saskatchewan stating the individual has met the criteria for citizenship from the registrar
OR
- Métis Nation-Saskatchewan Citizenship card
For more information: https://metisnationsk.com/citizenship/
Valid Métis Nation Citizenship cards from MN-British Columbia, MN-Alberta, Manitoba Métis Federation, MN-Ontario will also be accepted.
- Status Card
- Non-Status-to be determined by Tribal Councils/governments and the Standing Committee
All First Nation communities are represented in the online verification system.
(Documentation is to be determined by each First Nations government. Expired cards will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis).
We seek to maintain and create agreements and band council resolutions with each Saskatchewan First Nations government. First Nations governments outside of Saskatchewan will be contacted.
Communities that will be contacted in Saskatchewan include:
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Big Island Lake Cree Nation Black Lake Denesuline First Nation Carry The Kettle Nakota First Nation Fond Du Lac Denesuline First Nation
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Keeseekoose First Nation Makwa Sahgaiehcan First Nation Mosquito Grizzly Bear Head Lean Man First Nations Ocean Man First Nation
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Pelican Lake Pheasant Rump Nakota First Nation Standing Buffalo Dakota Nation |
- USA: Tribal Enrollment cards with Bureau of Indian Affairs assigned numbers and consultation with Indigenous communities directly.
- Indigenous communities outside Turtle Island (Māori, Hawaiian, Indigenous from Australia, etc.) will be address on a case-by-case basis.
No documentation is only to be used for Indigenous communities that do not participate in colonial documentation.
Please note that the no documentation option is not implemented/enacted in situations where individuals are awaiting applications for membership/citizenship or non-status in Canada. The University of Saskatchewan recognizes and honours the sovereign and inherent right of Indigenous governments to determine membership/citizenship; membership/citizenship and documentation for verification is determined and defined by Indigenous governments.
In the situation where there is an absence of colonial documentation, a signed/sworn notarized/legal affidavit outlining the following:
- the lineage and connection to said community (personal narrative),
- historical and geographical account of membership to community.
Additional documents to accompany signed/sworn notarized/legal affidavit:
- two (minimum) community references bearing witness to the applicant’s membership to said community.
- one reference by a member of the community who has personal history with the applicant,
- and one reference to be solicited by the University of Saskatchewan
The USSU at USask offers free notary services to undergraduate students; for graduate students, notary fees related to the deybwewin| taapwaywin| tapwewin: Indigenous Truth policy through the USSU will be covered by the Office of the Vice Provost, Indigenous Engagement.
Submit Your Documentation
Visit our online verification system to begin the process and submit your documents.
Frequently Asked Questions
This policy provides a framework for the implementation of Indigenous membership/citizenship verification with documentation at USask in order to safeguard the cultures and integrity of Indigenous peoples, Indigenous values, and Indigenous languages at USask.
The policy applies to all members of the university community including, but not limited to, students, researchers, post-doctoral fellows, staff, faculty, institutional leadership, members of governing bodies, Elders, Cultural Advisors, and Knowledge Keepers, and any person participating in university business or activities (e.g., service provider, contractor, volunteer) where there is material gain.
Yes, this option still exists for students but is separate from the deybwewin | taapwaywin | tapwewin verification system. However, in any scenario where there is a material gain such as scholarships, seats, etc. verification through the portal is required.
Everyone on campus is responsible for enacting the policy and ensuring it is implemented. Though the reason for proceeding through the process may differ, staff, faculty, and students will navigate through the verification system on PAWS through their personal profile page.
The implementation plan further outlines the steps for job postings/employment, scholarships, Indigenous-specific programs, awards, etc.
If you have specific questions about process or would like support, please contact: indigenoustruthpolicy@usask.ca
No, all documentation is collected and securely stored within the deybwewin | taapwaywin|tapwewin portal in PAWS and is managed by OVPIE. If any other unit is requesting this information from you, please direct them to indigenoustruthpolicy@usask.ca
The Office of the Vice Provost, Indigenous Engagement (OVPIE) has worked with the Information & Communications Technology team at USask to create a secure system that will house the data. Only select members of the OVPIE team will have access; no other department or individuals outside of OVPIE will have access to the documentation and personal information.
If your status has changed, please login via your PAWs account and review the notes provided in the secure system. If you still have questions, please email indigenoustruthpolicy@usask.ca
If you have uploaded additional documentation after your documents have already been reviewed, the status will reset to ‘requiring review.’ If you have uploaded additional documentation at the request of the system due to a pending deadline (ie scholarship, admissions, etc), please feel free to inform us via email at indigenoustruthpolicy@usask.ca
If your status is set to ‘conditionally verified’ please note that the Office of the Vice-Provost Indigenous Engagement, USask seeks to create and maintain agreements with each First Nations government. For Nations we do not yet have agreements with, status will say conditional upon verification of agreement with your nation. This is only temporary until an agreement is reached. To expedite the change of your status to verified, you may upload a letter from your registrar confirming your membership.
If you are having trouble uploading your documents, please save your documents as pdf’s and try uploading them again.
- An application is submitted and flagged as Indigenous specific
- An Indigenous specific admissions officer curates a secured list for review by OVPIE
- Student applicant submits documentation via the portal.
- OVPIE reviews documentation and verifies or requests additional documentation from student.
- The only information shared with admissions (or any other unit on campus) is the status of documentation, ie verified, conditionally verified, or pending.
- the only thing that can stall this process, is if we are awaiting additional information. If your status is set to anything other than verified, please review the notes in the portal for what information is needed.
The process of uploading documentation for verification remains the same and is done through PAWS. The data is housed on a confidential, secure system that is only accessed as required during your time at USask.
If your role at USask shifts or you have multiple roles (such as a staff member who is currently a student), you will not be required to upload additional documentation for each role. In recognition that many students return to academic studies and individuals may frequently apply for positions at USask, the data will be stored for a period of five years after which you are no longer active at USask.
Contact Us
If you have other questions or for additional information contact us via email or phone.
indigenoustruthpolicy@usask.ca
Standing Committee
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Chair: Angela Jaime Vice Provost, Indigenous Engagement Elder Joseph Naytowhow Elder Norman Fleury Karla Jessen Williamson Assistant Professor, Kurtis Boyer Johnson Shoyama Graduate
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Val Arnault-Pelletier Senior Lead, Yvette Arcand Director, Indian Teacher Amaranta Sokól Como Senior Strategic Officer, Carson Magnuson Strategic Officer, Office of the
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Standing Committee Terms of Reference
These Terms of Reference outline the role of the deybwewin (Saulteaux) | taapwaywin (Michif) | tapwewin (Cree) Standing Committee, to formalize and define their purpose, mandate, authority, and composition.
deybwewin (Saulteaux) | taapwaywin (Michif) | tapwewin (Cree) Task Force and Advisory Circle led and guided the USask community through the development and co-creation of a policy—as well as accompanying procedures and implementation plan—that will direct an appropriate, informed, and Indigenous-led process of Indigenous membership/citizenship verification with documentation at USask. The policy and procedures will inform decision-making across multiple contexts including but not limited to admissions, human resources activities (recruitment, promotion, and retention decisions, etc.), research and scholarly work, scholarships and awards. In doing so, the Task Force’s work will contribute to securing and ensuring that space intended for Indigenous people, is protected and secured for Indigenous people.
The name deybwewin (Saulteaux) | taapwaywin (Michif) | tapwewin (Cree) translates to “truth.”
The Task Force was chaired by Dr. Angela Jaime, interim Vice Provost, Indigenous engagement. For information, please contact angela.jaime@usask.ca.
Terms of Reference
Members of the Task Force:
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Chair: Angela Jaime Elder Harvey Thunderchild Elder Joseph Naytowhow Elder Josie Searson Elder Louise Halfe Elder Louise Pederson Elder Norman Fleury Bob Badger Dale Worme Tribal Chief Mark Arcand Rhonda Bluehorn Doloris Netmaker |
Robin McLeod Winona Wheeler Karla Jessen Williamson Kurtis Boyer Mary Longman Graeme Joseph Sheila Pocha Val Arnault-Pelletier |
Yvette Arcand Adam McInnes Aubrey-Anne Laliberte-Pewapisconias Candice Pete-Cardoso Amaranta Sokól Como Matt Dunn Candace Wasacase-Lafferty |