Pretendians and Publications: Unmasking ‘Redface Research’ in Academia

Indigenous scholars and communities have long advocated for greater representation and integrity within academia… but a growing phenomenon threatens this progress: “pretendians” or individuals falsely claiming Indigenous identity.

A recent report from the Yellowhead Institute, titled Pretendians and Publications: The Problem and Solutions to Redface Research authored by Dr. Amy Shawanda (Anishinaabe, Wiikwemkoong Unceded Territory) and Gabriel Maracle (Kanien’kehá:ka, Tyendinaga Mohawk Territory), sheds critical light on this issue.

And it underscores how pretendianism, a form of Indigenous identity fraud, significantly undermines Indigenous studies by distorting research, misappropriating funds and weakening the authenticity of scholarly discourse.

Shawanda and Maracle argue that such individuals exploit weak identity verification processes and insufficient cultural competency within academia, causing real harm to authentic Indigenous communities and scholars.

But at its core, pretendianism in research compromises Indigenous data sovereignty and propagates “Dirty Data” – information compromised by inaccuracies, inconsistencies or intentional misrepresentation.

So this not only undermines scholarly integrity but also leads to misguided policies affecting Indigenous communities negatively.

Indigenous scholars, often on the frontline of challenging pretendian claims, face aggressive backlash and professional risks, highlighting gendered dimensions within this struggle. In addition, institutions frequently defend pretendians due to longstanding relationships and flawed institutional processes, allowing such individuals to maintain their positions and even thrive within academia.

So to address this, Shawanda and Maracle offer robust recommendations, including the necessity for rigorous, community-led identity verification, enhanced cultural competency training and transparent data collection methods.

Universities, funding bodies, and publishers are encouraged to implement verification protocols that involve active participation from genuine Indigenous communities and experts.

The authors urge academia to reflect on their responsibilities seriously. By fostering genuine Indigenous self-determination and ensuring methodological integrity, institutions can help dismantle the structures enabling pretendianism, protecting the authenticity and dignity of Indigenous scholarship and communities.

This critical report from the Yellowhead Institute serves as both a call to action and a framework for meaningful change, reinforcing the need for collective vigilance against identity fraud in academia and beyond.