The university did not say why the former judge and high-profile advocate for children’s and Indigenous rights is no longer a tenured professor at the Peter A. Allard School of Law, only confirming that she is no longer with the school as of Dec. 16. UBC cited privacy law in not giving more details.We deliver the local news you need in these turbulent times on weekdays at 3 p.m.By clicking on the sign up button you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc.
In October, the CBC published a lengthy investigation into Turpel-Lafond’s claims of Indigenous ancestry and statements that she grew up in Norway House Cree Nation in Manitoba. The media outlet said the claims of Cree ancestry and treaty Indian status are inconsistent with publicly available documents.Article content
Turpel-Lafond has faced questions about her heritage over the years. But she has always insisted her father, William, was raised at Norway House. The CBC report said genealogical records indicate her paternal grandfather, Dr. William Nicholson Turpel, was of Irish, German and American ancestry, and his wife Eleanor was born in England to British parents.
“My dad was born during my grandfather’s time at Norway House,” Turpel-Lafond told CBC. “I was raised to not embarrass, shame or cause harm to families, and not to interfere. I respect my parents and all members of my family and I will never call anyone out. Growing up, we did not question biological parentage.”