Why so many Canadians pretend to be indigenous

The following comprehensive piece about the causes and consequences of the growing phenomenon call “pretendianism” — pretending to be indigenous by people with little or no indigenous background — and the key well known individuals who have been outed for doing so, was written by Kevin Yuill, professor emeritus of history, the University of Sunderland. It was published by a leading online journal on March 24, 2023.

According to Professor Yuill, “These Pretendians would probably not exist were it not for Canada’s racialised affirmative-action policies. There are clear rewards – in the form of jobs with six-figure salaries, grants, awards and prestige – that encourage some people to pretend to be from a minority group. Affirmative-action programmes incentivise white Canadians to play at being Indian,” an assertion I totally support.

Yuill’s piece is reproduced in full on the other side of the paywall with his kind permission.