The University of Waterloo’s effort to offer tuition waivers to Indigenous students has been praised for advancing reconciliation, yet its underlying verification process—chiefly based on Indian Act band membership—falls short of reflecting the true nature of the historical documents it claims to honor. This approach diminishes the Crown’s original commitments to Loyalist Mohawks under the Haldimand Proclamation of 1784, and it also overlooks the distinct membership processes that have long guided the Mohawk Nation.
Contrary to widespread assumptions, the Haldimand Proclamation was never a treaty; Isaac v. Davey confirmed its status as a land grant specifically for Loyalist Mohawks to enjoy “exclusively.” Canada further endorsed its continuing legal force on December 24, 1791. By casting the Proclamation as a general promise to “Six Nations,” institutions like Waterloo ignore the exclusivity that Crown documents extend to certain Mohawk families, whose lineage dates back to the original beneficiaries.
Our experience has taught us that relying solely on Indian Act band lists undermines not just the Proclamation, but also our own Mohawk membership processes, which include adoptions of individuals and, at times, entire nations. In 1869, Prince Arthur of Connaught was adopted into the Mohawk Nation, a profound symbol of the shared respect and unity between the Crown and the Mohawk people. Again, in 1913, Canada was formally adopted into the Mohawk Longhouse, as recounted by Pauline Johnson in her story “Royal Mohawk Chief,” when the circle wampum was “shattered” and refashioned to mark this new adoption. These practices emphasize the autonomy of the Mohawk Nation in determining who is recognized under its laws and traditions—an autonomy not captured by the Indian Act.
Over the years, we have taken legal measures to defend or restore Loyalist Mohawk descendants’ exclusive rights, since common verifications, including band membership, fail to reflect the Proclamation’s language and overlook the foundational frameworks that preceded the Indian Act. Lord Dorchester’s “mark of honor” and Post Nominal UE after the American Revolution and John Graves Simcoe’s subsequent heritage registry provided clear instructions for establishing Loyalist Mohawk lineage, an approach continued today by the United Empire Loyalist Association of Canada (UELAC). Meanwhile, our own birth and heritage registry remains a sovereign and parallel mechanism for confirming legitimate ties to the Mohawk Nation.
Rather than discarding its tuition waiver initiative, Waterloo can strengthen it by accepting both UELAC certifications and the Mohawk Nation’s registry. This change would align the waiver policy with Isaac v. Davey, acknowledge Canada’s reaffirmation of the Haldimand Proclamation on December 24, 1791, and better respect Mohawk sovereignty—thus ensuring that benefits reach descendants the Proclamation actually intended to protect. The university could also take an additional step toward deeper reconciliation by granting honorary degrees to Mohawk scholars, elders, or community leaders. Such degrees would reflect a serious commitment to intellectual and cultural exchange, opening doors for greater peer engagement and helping Waterloo fulfill its stated goal of achieving genuine reconciliation.
The Mohawk Nation of Grand River stands ready to share documentation and collaborate with any institution seeking a fact-based, legally consistent, and culturally respectful method of verifying eligibility for Indigenous tuition waivers. By recognizing our own adoption and membership processes, including adoptions at the individual and national level, Waterloo can bolster its program, properly honor the circle wampum tradition, and avoid perpetuating inaccuracies tied to Indian Act registries alone.
For those who trace their ancestry back to the Crown’s Loyalist Mohawk families and mohawk adoptions, these clarifications matter profoundly. If the university’s waiver program is anchored in the Haldimand Proclamation, it should reflect the Proclamation’s exclusivity, the pledge of 1779 naming three Mohawk villages. Canada’s 1791 reconfirmation and the rich history of the Mohawk membership and adoption processes. Through these efforts—together with potentially awarding honorary degrees—Waterloo can uphold the rights that the Crown granted so many generations ago and set a leading example of how true reconciliation can be achieved. Nia:wen (thank you) for engaging with this critical issue, and we stand prepared to continue the dialogue in cooperative forums until the rightful Mohawk heirs are fully recognized.
Contact info: benjamin.doolittle@mohawkuniversity.org
