Nunavut Inuit organization revokes enrolment of sisters; says first-of-its-kind case

Land claims organization says the women were enrolled in 2016 after their mother claimed she adopted them from an Inuk woman

The organization responsible for enrolling Inuit under the Nunavut Agreement has removed twin sisters from its list in what is calls a first-of-its-kind case.

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated announced March 30 it was investigating alleged fraud involving the enrolment of 24-year-old Nadya and Amira Gill.

The organization said the women were enrolled in 2016 after their mother claimed she adopted them from an Inuk woman. That woman’s family recently disputed the claim and said they have no biological relationship to the twins.

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated said in an April 13 statement that it asked the Gills to provide evidence they have an Inuk birth parent but did not receive a response. The Iqaluit community enrolment committee decided to remove them from its list April 6.

The Qikiqtani Inuit Association, a regional group representing about half of Inuit in Nunavut, said an internal investigation found a 2018 enrolment application from Manji in which she claimed she had been adopted by two Inuit from Iqaluit. The association said that application was rejected by the enrolment committee due to lack of supporting documentation and based on their knowledge of the community.

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated said its enrolment process is robust and it’s taking additional measures to strengthen its application and review process to prevent potential future fraud.

Noah Noah is the son of the woman the twins claimed to be their birth mother. He said in a statement on Twitter last week that it was a shock when his family learned Manji said she adopted the twins from his mother.

He said his family was not previously aware the sisters existed, but Manji is known to his family and his mother is a vulnerable person.

“It is harmful to Indigenous communities to claim and benefit from falsely claiming Indigenous identity,” he wrote. “Our family has not asked to be part of this conversation, but as we have been brought into it, we are seeking truth, justice, and accountability.”

Liam Gill, an older brother of the sisters, said in an email that to the best of his knowledge they share the same biological parents, Manji and Gurmail Gill.

He said they were not raised with any specific culture and he does not identify as Indigenous nor have status. He said his father immigrated to Canada from England and his mother from Tanzania.

Durant Barristers, an Ontario law firm where Nadya Gill was working as an articling student in sports law, said she has been placed on leave of absence pending an internal investigation.

“We find it entirely unacceptable for anyone to falsely claim to be Indigenous and use it for personal gain,” Erin Durant said in an email.

Amira Gill attended Queen’s University, where she studied civil engineering and was granted an award, scholarship and two bursaries designated for Indigenous students.

The sisters claimed to be Inuit in several news articles in 2021, when they launched Kanata Trade Co., an online business that sold masks designed by Indigenous artists.

The Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business said it suspended Kanata’s certification pending Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated’s investigation.

It said it received and verified proof of Indigenous identity and ownership before granting the certification.

“We have confidence in our process and follow best practices,” Tabatha Bull, president and chief executive officer, said in a statement. “If anything, this shows just how much the public needs and values transparency and integrity. We value that too.”