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.
In a few words: Update the Oath of Canadian Citizenship to include a pledge to respect Indigenous treaties
What does this mean in simple English?
This is a straightforward recommendation. All this recommendation is saying is that the citizenship oath, something at the heart of what it means to be a Canadian citizen, should include reference to the treaties which exist between many nations in Canada—Indigenous and non-Indigenous. Canada is a nation that was founded on the principles of peaceful coexistence between nations. Like a Two-Row Wampum Belt, Indigenous and immigrant peoples from the beginning of Canadian history pledged to live together. It is only fitting that new citizens also pledge to uphold this relationship.
From a policy perspective, this would be one of the easiest recommendations to implement, as all it would require is an amendment to the Citizenship Act. There would be no real shift of policy, nor would it involve any new spending. The only thing necessary is the political will to amend legislation. Individuals pressing their Members of Parliament to implement this (and other) recommendation(s) will help lead to its implementation.
Compiled by Jonathan Wearing