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New citizenship oath to include reference to treaties with Indigenous Peoples

It’s the 94th and final recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
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Phuong Nguyen, right, originally from Vietnam, is greeted by Oceanside RCMP Staff Sgt. Marc Pelletier after receiving her Canadian citizenship certificate. (Black Press Files)

A citizenship oath that will require new Canadians to faithfully observe treaties with Indigenous Peoples is nearing completion.

The oath has been in development since earlier this year and was road-tested in March during focus groups held by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

The only change to the oath is the addition of a reference to the treaties.

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That new language was the 94th and final recommendation of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, which examined the legacy of Canada’s residential schools.

Changing the wording of the oath requires a legislative amendment to the Citizenship Act, which the Liberals are currently in the process of overhauling.

The new oath comes along with a major refresh of the study guide used for the citizenship exam, which is now expected to also include extensive references to Indigenous history and culture.

The Canadian Press

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