Government-wide approach to the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form
Effective November 1, 2022, the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form replaces the Affirmation of Aboriginal Affiliation Form.
As per the Public Service Commission of Canada’s Appointment Policy, all departments and agencies under the Public Service Employment Act are required to use the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form when appointing a candidate who has self-declared as an Indigenous person, and where one of the following conditions applies:
- the area of selection is limited to Indigenous Peoples
- an organizational need is used to increase the representation of Indigenous Peoples
- an inventory of Indigenous candidates or a student employment program approved by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is used to increase the representation of Indigenous Peoples
If one of these circumstances applies, the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form is a condition of employment. It affirms the Indigenous identity of the person being appointed, and must be signed on or before the signing of the letter of offer. An appointment cannot take effect unless the person proposed for appointment has completed and signed this form.
The form was originally developed following concerns raised by Indigenous groups and in consultation with them. It was introduced as a pilot project on January 1, 2010, and reviewed in 2011, 2014 and 2020–21. Assessments of this policy requirement involved consultations with various Indigenous groups within and outside the public service, the human resources community as well as the bargaining agents.
These consultations have shown support for the continued use of the form, which serves to recognize the uniqueness of Indigenous identity, and deters people who are not Indigenous from falsely self-declaring to benefit from employment opportunities intended for Indigenous candidates.
Questions and answers
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1. Do all candidates who self-declare as an Indigenous person in a selection process need to complete the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form?
No. There is no requirement to complete the form unless the appointment process has one of the following conditions:
- the area of selection is limited to Indigenous Peoples
- an organizational need is used to increase the representation of Indigenous Peoples
- an inventory of Indigenous candidates or a student employment program approved by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat is used to increase the representation of Indigenous Peoples
For example, for a process where the area of selection is not limited to Indigenous Peoples, and the decision to appoint an Indigenous applicant was not based on an organizational need to increase Indigenous Peoples’ representation, the appointee would not need to complete the form.
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2. Should managers or human resources professionals be asking applicants to substantiate their Indigenous ancestry?
No. Managers or human resources professionals should ensure that the form is completed and signed by the appointee on or before the signing of the letter of offer.
If managers or human resources professionals have doubts about a candidate's claim to be an Indigenous person, they should consult the Public Service Commission of Canada’s Investigations Directorate for advice on how to best handle the situation.
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3. Should the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form be completed by students?
Yes, when the selected student has self-declared as an Indigenous person, and the proposed appointment aims to increase the representation of Indigenous Peoples using a Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat approved student employment program such as the Federal Student Work Experience Program, Co-op/Internship Program or Research Affiliate Program.
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4. Can hiring managers include essential or asset requirements in the established merit criteria, such as Indigenous knowledge, culture or customs?
Yes, depending on the position to be staffed. Hiring managers have the flexibility to include essential or asset qualifications in the established merit criteria to ensure the candidate has the appropriate qualifications to do the job.
For example, experience working with First Nations, Inuit or Métis may be relevant. Assessments of Indigenous cultural knowledge or traditions may be essential for certain positions. References can also include community-based individuals. For more information, consult the Indigenous recruitment toolbox (accessible only on the Government of Canada network).
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5. What is the difference between self-declaration, the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form and self-identification?
Self-declaration is the term the Public Service Commission of Canada uses for collecting employment equity information, voluntarily provided by applicants to appointment processes, that is used to determine eligibility when employment equity is a screening or selection criterion and for statistical purposes.
The Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form is an affirmation for individuals who are proposed for appointment and have voluntarily self-declared as an Indigenous person. It is an Appointment Policy requirement, and it must be signed prior to appointment where one of the following conditions was applied:
- the area of selection was limited to Indigenous people
- an organizational need was used to increase the representation of Indigenous Peoples
- an inventory of Indigenous candidates or a student employment program approved by the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat was used to increase the representation of Indigenous Peoples
Self-identification is the term the Treasury Board uses for the collection of employment equity information voluntarily provided by employees upon hiring and during workforce survey campaigns, and it is used for statistical analysis of the federal public service workforce.
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6. Are there any consequences to giving false or misleading information on Indigenous Identity?
Yes. Providing false or misleading information on the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form may result in rejection of the application and/or corrective action such as revocation of the appointment, following an investigation by the Public Service Commission of Canada or its delegate.
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7. What is the process for submitting a complaint or an allegation regarding fraud? Who can file a complaint? Who will conduct the investigation?
Complaints or allegations of fraud must be submitted in writing to the Public Service Commission of Canada’s Investigations Directorate, and should include supporting documentation regardless of whether the appointment process is internal or external.
Anyone who has knowledge that fraud may have been committed in relation to the Affirmation of Indigenous Identity Form can submit a request for investigation.
The Public Service Commission of Canada’s Investigations Directorate is responsible for completing the investigations. Under section 69 of the Public Service Employment Act, it has the sole authority to investigate fraud.
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