Iqaluit RCMP charged three Ontario based females in relation to a complaint of fraudulent enrollment into the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporation (NTI) beneficiary list.
According to the RCMP, sisters Amira and Nadya Gill and Karima Manji, who previously claimed to be their adoptive mother, each face two counts of fraud over $5,000.
The story of the Gill sisters and their false status was first reported by Nunatsiaq News — a local paper serving Nunavut and the Nunavik territory of Quebec — in March 2023.
The report indicated that Nunavut Tunngavik Inc. (NTI) — an organization that ensures promises made under the Nunavut Agreement are carried out and verifies claims of Inuit ancestry — was investigating the sisters for “potential” enrollment fraud.
An investigation began earlier this year and it was found that between October 2016, and September 2022 the women were found to have applied for and obtained Inuit beneficiary status as adopted Inuit children, through Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporation (NTI).
“The women used this Inuit beneficiary status to defraud the Kakivak Association and Qikiqtani Inuit Association of funds that are only available to Inuit beneficiaries by obtaining grants and scholarships,” said a police statement.
According to a previous release by NTI, “The three women applied for enrolment under the Nunavut Agreement in 2016 (Gills) and 2018 (Manji). In 2016, the Iqaluit Community Enrolment Committee reviewed and approved the applications of Amira and Nadya, relying on information provided in their application that they had an Inuk birth mother. The application had been made by Karima Manji who claimed to be their adoptive mother. On March 30, 2023, an application was made by the Inuk woman’s legal guardian to remove Amira and Nadya from the enrolment list because the Gills have no biological relationship with her. The Gills were asked by NTI to provide evidence that they have an Inuk birth parent as claimed in their application. No response was received.
On April 6, 2023, the Iqaluit Community Enrolment Committee met and made the decision to remove Amira and Nadya Gill from the Inuit Enrolment List.”
During its internal investigation, the QIA identified a 2018 application for enrolment from Karima Manji in which she stated falsely that she had been adopted by two named Inuit from Iqaluit. This application was denied by the Iqaluit Community Enrolment Committee based on their knowledge of the community and the lack of supporting documentation,” the release mentioned.
In April 2023, Nunavut Tunngavik Inc (NTI) and the Qikiqtani Inuit Association (QIA) asked the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) to investigate the actions of Amira Gill, Nadya Gill and Karima Manji in applying for enrolment under the Nunavut Agreement.
On September 14, 2023 Karima Manji (59), Amira Gill (25) and Nadya Gill (25) were charged with 2 counts each of Fraud over $5000 contrary to Section 380(1)(a) of the Criminal Code.
Manji, Amira and Nadya Gill are scheduled in Iqaluit court on October 30, 2023.
NTI while responding the charges said, “The charges come as a result of an investigation into alleged enrolment fraud that NTI referred to the RCMP earlier this year. This case underscores the significance of preserving the integrity of Inuit enrolment and reaffirms the commitment to uphold the principles set forth in the Nunavut Agreement, Article 35.”
The Nunavut Agreement, Article 35, lays out the established processes for enrolment and underscores the rights of Inuit to be enrolled according to their own customs and traditions. It recognizes the importance and autonomy y of Community Enrolment Committees (CECs) in evaluating enrolment applications, in accordance with Article 35 and the Enrolment Manual.
“Inuit identity is a matter of profound cultural significance, deeply embedded in the tapestry of Inuit culture, history, and way of life. It transcends mere paperwork or formal documentation and is rooted in shared traditions, languages, and the legacy of ancestors,” says Aluki Kotierk, President of NTI. “Inuit identity is intimately linked to the land, the stories passed down through generations, and the customs that define their way of life. It encompasses the knowledge of traditions, use of languages, and the appreciation of customs that truly define Inuit individuals.”
