Reconciliation
Newcomers to Canada
94. We call upon the Government of Canada to replace the Oath of Citizenship with the following:
I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada including Treaties with Indigenous Peoples, and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.
At this point the wording of the Oath of Citizenship hasn't yet been revised, but new language has recently been proposed.
I especially appreciate these last two Calls - so many Canadians who were born and raised here aren't even aware of the history and legacy of residential schools and the genocide of Indigenous Peoples, nor the importance of reconciliation and decolonization. The fact that we are imparting these things upon new Canadians, that we are starting them off with the knowledge that so many born Canadians are either unaware of, ignorant to, or in denial about, gives me hope. Whether we want to admit it or not, what was done - and continues to be done - to Indigenous people in this country is a significant part of our past and present, and something that affects a major portion of our population.
We enjoy the privileges of this country because of this history, and it's up to each of us to do the work toward reconciliation and decolonization in order to make it better for everyone.
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