According to a deal obtained through the province’s freedom of information legislation, public relations firm National provided the institution’s board with “communications advice on a sensitive issue involving its president.” The contract is dated March 10, two days after Radio-Canada released an investigation into the Mi’kmaq ancestors that Herr claims.^Me Timmons.

“We have worked with private and public sector organizations, including universities across the country, to address allegations of misrepresentation and misconduct made against executives,” National said in the document in response to a request from the university.

The company has offered to monitor the media and handle communications through a team that includes the VP of Crisis and Issues Management for an estimated sum of $13,800. National claimed his approach would protect the university’s reputation, but details of that plan and associated budget have been redacted.

Memorial University spokeswoman Michelle Osmond said in an email that the board had reached out to the public relations firm to “provide independent advice and support.” How much the university finally paid the company, she could not immediately say.

Radio-Canada’s article had raised questions about Frau.^Me Timmons, who said his father’s great-great-grandmother was Mi’kmaq. M^Me Timmons apologized shortly after, saying she regrets “any hurt or confusion sharing her story has caused.” On March 13, she announced that she would be taking six weeks’ paid leave, but on April 6, the board announced that she had terminated her contract.

M^Me Timmons is not the first member of the academic community whose claims to Indigenous heritage have recently been questioned.

In March, the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association revoked an award it gave to former judge and law professor Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, saying it believed she had “falsified her Cree ancestry.” Several schools, including McGill University, have also revoked the honorary doctorates they had given to Ms.^Me Turpel-Lafond, who also of her own accord decided to give up the certificates she had received from Simon Fraser and Brock Universities.

Last summer, Carrie Bourrassa resigned as a health professor at the University of Saskatchewan after a CBC investigation questioned her claims that she was of mixed race.

M^Me Timmons claimed he never claimed to be an Indigenous, only to have Indigenous heritage. However, for years she cited her membership in the Bras d’Or Mi’kmaq First Nation of Nova Scotia as her professional credentials. The group is not recognized as a First Nation by either the Nova Scotia government or the federal government.

M^Me Timmons started at Memorial University in April 2020 on a five-year contract and an annual salary of $450,000. Her contract states that if she is terminated without cause – which she is now – she will be entitled to a $675,000 severance payment and $270,000 in other benefits.