NTI begins removal process of Kanata Trading Co. twins from Nunavut Agreement

Nunavut land claims organization working on strengthening enrolment process

By Trevor Wright Northern News Services Nunavut

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated (NTI) is investigating potential fraudulent enrolment under the Nunavut Agreement.

NTI became aware of the potential fraudulent enrolment of Amira and Nadya Gill, with Karima Manji claiming they were her adopted children and identifying an Inuk woman as their birth mother.

Subsequently, on March 30, NTI announced it received information from the Inuk woman identified as the birth mother confirming Amira and Nadya are not her children. NTI stated that the process of removing the twins’ Inuit status under the Nunavut Agreement has been initiated.

The issue received attention after having their small business Kanata Trading Co. products featured and going viral, with many online noting holes in the story about their Inuit heritage. Their education also received funding from Indspire, an Indigenous national charity meant for investing in the education of First Nations, Inuit and Metis people. Indspire did not return messages from Nunavut News as of press time.

The Kanata Trading Co. website is now currently protected behind a password following this issue receiving attention.

The family of Kitty Noah, whom the Gill twins claimed to be a part of, came out with a statement on April 4 condemning the fraudulent claims.

“It has been a complete shock to find out that Amira and Nadya Gill were registered under the Nunavut Agreement using the name of my mother,” wrote Noah Noah, Kitty’s son.

“We do not know the Gill sisters and had no knowledge that they existed, but Karima Manji, their mother is know to our family. My mother is a vulnerable person who may have been exploited.”

The family statement went on to add they were not the ones to file this complaint, but they are happy to see quick action undertaken by NTI on this matter.

“At this time, we are also asking for the RCMP to conduct an investigation into this situation, given that it appears these claims have been made fraudeulently.”

“It is harmful to Indigenous communities to claim and benefit from falsely claiming Indigenous identity.”

The Iqaluit Community Enrollment Committee will be reviewing the removal application and will make a decision.

NTI’s enrolment process is governed by Article 35 of the Nunavut Agreement. Community enrolment committees in each of Nunavut’s 25 municipalities review applications.

The function of removal under the Nunavut Agreement can be initiated by the committee or at the request of another enrolled person under the Nunavut Agreement, “as a consequence of that person no longer meeting the enrolment requirements,” according to Article 35.

NTI notes this case is the first of its kind under the NTI enrolment program and the organization will be working with community enrolment committees to strengthen the process to prevent any future fraudulent claims.