We call upon all levels of government to enable residential school Survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system by waiving administrative costs for a period of five years for the name-change process and the revision of official identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, driver’s licenses, health cards, status cards, and social insurance numbers.
Why “Stalled”?
The federal government announced on June 14, 2021 that Indigenous people can apply to reclaim their traditional names on their passports and other government issued ID.
As of June 20, 2023 the NWT joined the provinces of Alberta, Ontario and Nova Scotia and agreed to allow residential school survivors and their families to reclaim their names. BC and Manitoba currently have bills in process.
Current Status
Stalled
Call to Action
last updated
June 20, 2023
Latest Updates
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
Government of the Northwest Territories Waives Change of Name Fee for Indigenous Residents of the NWT
NationTalk: The Government of the Northwest Territories (GNWT) announced today that it will waive the change of name fee for Indigenous residents of the NWT……
June 20, 2023
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
Parents win battle to have son’s Kwak̓wala name on his B.C. birth certificate
Crystal Smith took fight to recognize λugʷaləs K’ala’ask Shaw’s name to B.C. Supreme Court Anna McKenzie · LJI Reporter · Posted: Mar 30, 2023 1:39 PM EDT | Last……
March 30, 2023
English Alphabet Privilege over Indigenous Languages
Opinion: Can’t read c̓aləχʷəlenəx? For Indigenous Canadians, that’s a point of pride.
A school in Vancouver boasts a sign partially written in the Halkomelem language of the Musqueam people. (J.J. McCullough/The Washington Post) Washington Post: By J.J. McCullough,……
December 9, 2022
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
Manitoba bill would help ensure birth certificates reflect Indigenous names
The Globe and Mail: The Manitoba government is moving to ensure birth certificates can better represent the names of Indigenous people and those of other……
November 17, 2022
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
Bill M209 proposes useing Indigenous characters, symbols on B.C. IDs
Chemainus Valley Courier: Emme Abbs, a Grade 12 student in Golden, has inspired Columbia River-Revelstoke MLA Doug Clovechok to introduce a private member’s bill that……
May 26, 2022
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
Bill 236 introduces amendments to the Vital Statistics Act to permit Indigenous names
Winnipeg Sun: NDP critic for Indigenous reconciliation Ian Bushie (Keewatinook) introduced Bill 236 on Wednesday at the Manitoba Legislature alongside Carson Robinson and Zaagaate Jock……
May 18, 2022
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
Manitoba’s Vital Statistics Act only recognizes the letters a-z and English or French accents
CBC: Province’s Vital Statistics Act restricts what accents and symbols can be used. A Manitoba Indigenous couple named their daughter Atetsenhtsén:we, which translates to “forever healing……
February 17, 2022
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
Limitation of Government Printing Systems
Government systems can only print in Roman alphabet with French accents, meaning names with numbers and Indigenous characters and symbols won’t be accommodated. The immigration……
August 28, 2021
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
The federal government announced that Indigenous people can now apply to reclaim their traditional names on passports and other government ID. All fees will be waived……
June 14, 2021
Reclaiming Indigenous Names
Nova Scotia
Beginning July 9, name change fees will be waived for residential school survivors and their families who want to reclaim names that were changed by……
July 4, 2019