Geoff Leo

The University of Saskatchewan has announced in a brief statement&nbsp;that Carrie Bourassa has resigned.

Bourassa&nbsp;was a professor in the department of community health and epidemiology. She also ran an Indigenous community-based health research lab at the university.&nbsp;

For years, she claimed to be Métis, Anishinaabe and Tlingit, but an October 2021&nbsp;CBC investigation found no evidence that she had any Indigenous ancestry. All of her relatives appear to be of European ancestry.&nbsp;

Following publication of that story, Bourassa was suspended and placed under investigation by the U of S. In November, the university announced that Métis lawyer Jean Teillet would conduct that probe.&nbsp;

Indigenous or pretender? Some colleagues say a leading health scientist is faking Indigenous ancestry

Carrie Bourassa, one of the country's most-esteemed Indigenous health experts, claims to be Métis, Anishinaabe and Tlinglit. Some of her colleagues say there's no evidence of that.

A woman in a Metis sash is interviewed by several media outlets.

Carrie Bourassa is the scientific director at the national Institute for Indigenous Peoples' Health at the University of Saskatchewan. She speaks with reporters about the institute's new strategic plan, which will put more control about the research being done into the hands of Indigenous communities. 

Carrie Bourassa

Health scientist Carrie Bourassa on immediate leave after scrutiny of her claim she's Indigenous

Carrie Bourassa has been placed on immediate leave by both the University of Saskatchewan and the Indigenous health arm of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research, where she is scientific director, after a weekend of online outrage stemming from CBC's investigation into her claims to Indigeneity.

In this 2019 TEDx talk in Saskatoon, Bourassa claimed publicly that she is Métis and Anishnaabe and has suffered the effects of racism. 

Carrie Bourassa TEDx talk

At the 2019 TEDx talk in Saskatoon, Carrie Bourassa claimed publicly that she is Métis and Anishnaabe and has suffered the effects of racism. 

A statement from Preston Smith, the dean of the university's&nbsp;college of medicine, seems to indicate that with Bourassa's resignation, the investigative report will focus on policy improvements instead of Bourassa's conduct.&nbsp;

"Given Dr. Bourassa is no longer with the university, an investigation being conducted by Jean Teillet will now&nbsp;focus on recommendations for improvements to relevant University of Saskatchewan policies and processes," he wrote.&nbsp;

Smith indicated that the university expects to receive the report "in the near future."&nbsp;

In November, Bourassa was dismissed from her role as the scientific director of the Indigenous health arm of the Canadian Institutes of Health Research (CIHR). In that role, she oversaw the distribution of research funds to Indigenous health-focused projects across Canada.

In this 2019 TEDx Talk in Saskatoon, Carrie Bourassa claimed publicly that she is Métis and Anishinaabe and has suffered the effects of racism.

Carrie Bourassa, who claimed to be Indigenous without evidence, has resigned from U of Sask.

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