Close X
Saturday, November 23, 2024
ADVT 
National

Turpel-Lafond 'satisfied' with identity, past work

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 10 Mar, 2023 11:32 AM
  • Turpel-Lafond 'satisfied' with identity, past work

VANCOUVER - Former judge Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond says she's satisfied in her "past work, identity and self-worth," after the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association revoked an award because its board members believed she falsified her claims of Indigenous identity.

In her most expansive recent remarks since a CBC investigation last fall raised questions about her claim of Cree heritage, Turpel-Lafond said it's "liberating" to be freed of honours because it permits her to "focus on what really matters" in her life.

She has "no emotional attachment to titles, honours or accolades," she said Thursday by email in response to a request for comment by The Canadian Press.

But Turpel-Lafond said she was surprised the association rescinded the 2020 Reg Robson Award without "basic fairness," such as allowing her an opportunity to be heard.

"Trial by media is rampant, can be unbalanced and cause harm," said the former law professor and B.C. representative for children and youth.

"This is precisely how wrongful convictions and injustice happens — take a position based on what someone else suggests while never delving deeper into matters to determine the truth."

She used an Indigenous name, aki-kwe, in her email signature, as well as her English name.

The civil liberties association issued a statement Thursday saying its board had believed Turpel-Lafond's representations about her heritage when granting the award.

Indeed, they believed her ancestry "played an essential role in informing her professional roles, her position in the community, and her work to advance human rights on behalf of Indigenous Peoples and advocacy organizations," it said.

But information had come to light demonstrating that, in its board's view, Turpel-Lafond had falsified her claim of Cree heritage, while certain professional and academic accomplishments had also been disproven or called into question.

Her professional integrity has been eroded, it said, adding Turpel-Lafond had yet to publicly account for the allegations about her heritage and other claims, including that she was recognized with a Queen's counsel designation in Saskatchewan.

Her actions have taken opportunities and recognition away from Indigenous women and played a part in "gravely undermining" public confidence in the legal profession, it said.

The association must follow the lead of Indigenous scholars, leaders and organizations, including the Indigenous Women's Collective, which is demanding that all honorary degrees and awards conferred on her be revoked, it said.

McGill University, Carleton University and the University of Regina each rescinded honorary degrees awarded to Turpel-Lafond last month, and she has returned degrees conferred by two B.C. post-secondary institutions after the schools initiated reviews in response to questions and concerns about her claims.

Others have confirmed they are looking into honorary degrees awarded to her, including Brock, Mount Saint Vincent and St. Thomas universities.

In conferring its own award, the civil liberties association recognizes it "contributed to amplifying … Turpel-Lafond's claims and position of influence," it said.

Her actions added to a "widespread pattern of Indigenous identity fraud, and the severe harms" it causes, it said.

"Indigenous identity fraud perpetuates colonial violence and assimilation practices, allowing settlers to shape the future for Indigenous communities while marginalizing Indigenous voices and weakening self-determination," it said.

Turpel-Lafond was also appointed to the Order of Canada in 2021.

She previously told the CBC that while she was growing up she didn't question the biological parentage of her father, who she has said was Cree.

"He was Cree, spoke Cree and lived the values of a Cree person," she said in a statement posted to her Twitter account last October. Her father's non-Indigenous grandparents had adopted her father, "who they knew to be a Cree child," she said.

Turpel-Lafond served as British Columbia's representative for children and youth and, until last December, she was a tenured law professor at the University of B.C.

Until last year, she also served as the academic director of the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre at the university.

MORE National ARTICLES

Trudeau asks for new foreign interference probes

Trudeau asks for new foreign interference probes
The National Security and Intelligence Review Agency will look at the work Canada's intelligence agencies have done on foreign interference. Trudeau will also appoint a "special rapporteur" to independently review their work to ensure there are no gaps.

Trudeau asks for new foreign interference probes

B.C. court tosses guilty pleas amid Charter claim

B.C. court tosses guilty pleas amid Charter claim
Beverley Keith Klassen was arrested in Surrey, B.C., in August 2016 and pleaded guilty to drug trafficking midway through a trial, while his female co-accused was later found guilty.

B.C. court tosses guilty pleas amid Charter claim

B.C. plans online image sharing law

B.C. plans online image sharing law
Niki Sharma told the legislature that the legislation would create new legal rights and remedies people could use to stop the distribution of their intimate images and to seek compensation for the harms it caused.

B.C. plans online image sharing law

North Van collision claims life of a cyclist in her 40's

North Van collision claims life of a cyclist in her 40's
The cyclist has been identified as a resident of North Vancouver in her 40’s. Police are in the process of conducting a next of kin notification. The cause of the collision is still under investigation.

North Van collision claims life of a cyclist in her 40's

Mounties probing leaks on alleged foreign meddling

Mounties probing leaks on alleged foreign meddling
The RCMP says it has opened an investigation into possible violations of the Security of Information Act concerning recent media reports about alleged foreign interference. In a statement to The Canadian Press, the national police force says the probe is not focused on any one security agency.

Mounties probing leaks on alleged foreign meddling

Man, 22, dead after Vancouver stabbing

Man, 22, dead after Vancouver stabbing
The Vancouver Police Department says in a news release that officers responded to a home near Boundary Road and East 45th Avenue after receiving reports about a man being stabbed around 10 p.m. Friday. Police say they found 22-year-old Caleb Morin, who was taken to hospital and later died of his injures.

Man, 22, dead after Vancouver stabbing