Carrie Burasa, who claimed to be indigenous without evidence, withdrew from the U of Sask.

The University of Saskatchewan said in a brief statement that Carrie Burasa had resigned.

Burasa was a professor in the Department of Public Health and Epidemiology. She also ran a local health research laboratory at the university.

For years, she claimed to be Metis, Anishinaabe and Tlingit, but a CBC investigation in October 2021 found no evidence that she was of indigenous origin. All her relatives appear to be of European descent.

Following the publication of this story, Bourassa was stopped and placed under investigation by the U of S. In November, the university announced that Métis’ lawyer Jean Teillet would conduct this investigation.

A statement from Preston Smith, dean of the university’s medical college, appears to indicate that Burasa’s resignation report will focus on policy improvements instead of Burasa’s behavior.

“Given that Dr. Burasa is no longer at the university, the investigation conducted by Jean Taye will now focus on recommendations for improving the relevant policies and processes of the University of Saskatchewan,” he wrote.

Smith said the university expects to receive the report “in the near future.”

In November, Burasa was relieved of her role as Research Director of the Indigenous Health Division of the Canadian Institute for Health Research (CIHR). In this role, she oversaw the allocation of research funds to Indigenous health projects in Canada.