Indigenous rights now recognized in citizenship oath for new Canadians
The updated oath was said for the first time by 31 new citizens on Tuesday
Thirty-one new Canadians took the updated version of Canada’s citizenship oath on Tuesday, which now recognizes Indigenous rights. (Screenshot from virtual ceremony)
Tuesday marked the first time new Canadians took an updated citizenship oath that recognizes Inuit, First Nation and Métis rights.
Thirty-one people from eight different countries took the oath in a virtual ceremony, which recognizes the fact that Indigenous rights are enshrined in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982, and Indigenous peoples have been present in Canada since time immemorial.
The change in the oath became official Monday night, when Bill C-8 received royal assent. The passage of Bill C-8 checks off one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 calls to action.
Marco Mendicino, the minister of immigration, refugees and citizenship, said the oath of citizenship is more than words.
“[It] is a commitment to this country—and that includes the national project of reconciliation,” he stated. “It is an acknowledgement of newly gained rights and newly charged responsibilities.”
He said Tuesday’s ceremony was a “profound” moment.
The new oath reads: “I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to her majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second, queen of Canada, her heirs and successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada, including the Constitution, which recognizes and affirms the Aboriginal and treaty rights of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples, and fulfil my duties as a Canadian citizen.”
In the aim of scratching another call to action off the list, Mendicino said his department is working on updating Canada’s citizenship guide to make sure people understand the role Indigenous peoples play in Canada’s past, present and future.
The new guide will be presented later this year, he stated.
Carolyn Bennett, the minister of Crown-Indigenous relations, said in a news release “it is so important that new Canadians understand the rights and significant contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis.”
can someone please let the Rankin Inlet Fire Chief know!!!!! 🙂
Hold on now! Provide the bare necessities for the Canadian Indigenous people first before you start Oathing new Canadians in. Provide the Indigenous people with the same privileges as our white counterparts before you start Oathing in new Canadians!
Provide homeless Canadians appropriate shelter before you start Oathing in new Canadians!
Ummm, what?
Immigration is federal, housing is provincial. Talk to your provincial/territorial rep about housing, they have little to do with immigration.
Immigrants aren’t provided housing, they’re on their own. While the homeless are often a burden to provinces and territories, immigrants aren’t, that is why they are in such demand.
Mighty focused on whitey, aren’t you? Might want to reflect on that as the situation in Canada is much much more complicated than merely skin colour.
Can’t support this at all. Where we vacation in the summer, the influx of both new Canadians and permanent residents on the citizenship path have been a tremendous boon to the local (rural) area. The local young people are leaving due to no interest in a farming life, but the immigrants have contributed mightily to the economy, the social life, and to increasing the diversity of the area. In that area, we need many many more immigrants.
Don’t tell Mumilaaq about this, she’s devoted to believing Canada does nothing for Indigenous People to be proud of (I guess the feds handing over a blank housing cheque would make Inuit proud?) and needs all MPs to feel extremely ashamed.