Following the verdict that a Nunavut woman would see jail time for fraudulently claiming to be Inuit so her daughters could receive scholarships, the University of Saskatchewan has signed an agreement recognizing that it’s the right of the Inuit to decide who is Inuit.

A Memorandum of Understanding was signed between USask and the national group representing 70,000 Inuit in Canada, who said the agreement is the first of its kind in Canada.

The agreement allows, for the purposes of accessing benefits, for Inuit to decide who is Inuit, instead of, for example, an academic institution.

Those who wish to access benefits can apply through a confidential portal at the U of S where the credentials are verified.