In 2023, Memorial University engaged the services of First Peoples Group to advance the institution’s work in developing an Indigenous verification protocol. The need to develop this protocol was originally identified in Memorial’s Strategic Framework for Indigenization 2021-26. 

First Peoples Group is a certified Indigenous business based in Ottawa and led by a network of Indigenous women. It offers community-based Indigenous knowledge and has experience working in the post-secondary education sector. 

Working with Memorial University, First Peoples Group conducted a series of consultations to support the development of an institution-wide Indigenous verification protocol. Through February and March 2024, First Peoples Group conducted a series of consultations with Indigenous leaders, Indigenous organizations and self-identified Indigenous faculty, staff, students and alumni of Memorial University. Consultations included virtual group sessions, virtual one-on-one sessions and a survey. 

Once the consultations were completed, First Peoples Group compiled what they heard into a publicly available final report, along with recommendations for Memorial University.

Read the report from First Peoples Group.