For Immediate Release
(June 24, 2024 – Iqaluit, Nunavut) Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) provided a Victim Impact Statement to the Nunavut Court of Justice today. NTI is awaiting the sentencing of Karima Manji, expected by Thursday, June 27, 2024, in the Nunavut Court for fraudulently enrolling her non-Inuit twin daughters Amira and Nadya Gill under the Nunavut Agreement, after which they received funding and opportunities that are set up specifically for Nunavut Inuit. Justice Manocchio revoked Ms. Manji’s bail and ordered her into custody pending sentencing.
“Cases of Indigenous identity fraud are increasingly being called out across Canada” said NTI Chief Executive Officer Kilikvak Kabloona. “The harms that these false claims have on Inuit are irreparable, and NTI looks forward to Karima Manji’s sentence setting a strong precedent and serving as a warning to all that Indigenous identity fraud is a serious crime with consequences. Karima Manji made her story up and based her daughters’ claims to Inuit identity entirely on lies and falsehoods, and her non-Inuk family illegally and fraudulently took funding and opportunities that are meant for Nunavut Inuit.”
This is the first known enrolment fraud case in Nunavut. The knowledge and closeness of Inuit families within each Nunavut community has been sufficient to protect against attempts at fraudulent claims for enrolment under the Nunavut Agreement. Karima Manji’s crime has changed that, as it has forced Nunavut Inuit to implement extra safeguards in the enrolment process, increasing the administrative burden for Inuit and adding potential delays to the Nunavut Inuit enrolment process.
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Media Contact:
Ivaluarjuk Merritt
Director of Communications
Nunavut Tunngavik Inc.
