Mayor appoints Winnipeg Coun. Rollins to Indigenous advisory circle

Winnipeg Mayor Brian Bowman has appointed Coun. Sherri Rollinsto his Indigenous advisory council, days after the newly elected councillor declared she's not a member of the Huron-Wendatnation with whom she identifies.

"I do believe she will make a positive contribution on the Indigenous advisory circle," Bowman said Wednesday, addingRollinshas done more to support Winnipeg's reconciliation efforts than most in the community.

Duringher campaign for theFort Rouge-East Fort Garry council seat, Rollins identified herself on her website as "a proud Huron-Wendat woman" and described herself as Huron-Wendatin her Twitter biography.

On Friday, she said she's not a member of Canada's only Huron-Wendatnation in Quebec, has no connection to a modern Huron or Wyandotcommunity and does not have Indigenous status. She said she believes she has Huron-Wendatroots and identified a Miami nation ancestor who was born in the 18thcentury.

• Rookie Winnipeg councillor's claim of being a 'proud Huron-Wendat woman' under scrutiny

On Wednesday, Bowman appointed both Rollins and fellow rookie Coun. Kevin Klein (Charleswood-Tuxedo) whoidentifies as OntarioMtis to his 20-member Indigenous advisory circle, which also includes elders, businesspeople and professionals.

Bowman said Rollins'sIndigeneity has no bearing on her appointment and refused repeated requests to offer his opinion about her claim of beingHuron-Wendat.

"I do not ask for proof one's racial or religious backgrounds and I believe every member of council has the ability to lead," Bowman said following the first executive policy committee of the new council term.

RoIlins said via email shelooks forward to working with the committee.

Jessica Dumas, a professional trainer who is a member of the mayor's Indigenous circle, said Rollinswill be scrutinized.

"If she shares any insights on any experiential story, or anything she wants to bring in, I think that's always going to be questioned, because her identity is questioned," Dumas said in a telephone interview.

"I think the community is going to hold her accountable to who she is."

Fellow Indigenous circle memberDamon Johnston, president of the Aboriginal Council of Winnipeg, said he's in no position to question how someone identifies.

"Mixed blood with Indigenous people goes back a long time. There are many Canadians, if they took the time to take a DNA test, they would find they're of Indigenous heritage," said Johnston, who said he supported Rollins's council campaign.

• Sherri Rollins wins Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry in 7-way race to replace Jenny Gerbasi

Bowman questioned why reporters would pursue the Rollins story and said he did not follow the story of Joseph Boyden, an author whose claims of Indigeneity were placed under scrutiny.

"I actually didn't follow that as closely as I'm sure members of CBC did," said Bowman, referring to a story initially reported by APTN in 2016.

• Author Joseph Boydendefends Indigenous heritage after investigation
• Full interview: Joseph Boyden on his heritage

Boyden spoke at a summit on racism organized by the mayor's office in 2015, before the author's claims came under scrutiny.

One councillor in the mayor's Indigenous advisory circle is raising concerns

6 years ago

Duration 2:00

Mayor Brian Bowman is proud of his Indigenous advisory circle. But he faced questions today about his latest appointment to that committee.