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e-6690 (Indigenous affairs)
E-petition
Initiated by Sriti Mizan from Burlington, Ontario
Original language of petition: English
Petition to the House of Commons in Parliament assembled
Whereas:
- July 1 celebrations across Canada seldom include Indigenous ceremonies such as tobacco offerings, sacred fires or Elder-led openings;
- Ceremony affirms nation-to-nation relationships and advances both the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act;
- Public visibility of Indigenous protocols educates Canadians and honours treaty obligations; and
- Indigenous organisations need resources to host ceremonial leaders and knowledge keepers.
We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to
1. Issue national guidance encouraging municipalities and federally funded Canada Day events to invite local Elders or Knowledge Keepers to open celebrations with tobacco offerings, sacred fires or other appropriate ceremony;
2. Establish a rapid micro-grant program, administered by Indigenous Services Canada, to cover honoraria, permits, medicines and travel for ceremonial leaders;
3. Co-develop and distribute, with Indigenous cultural educators, a user-friendly outreach kit outlining protocol, safety and the significance of ceremony for all Canada Day organisers;
4. Require that every Canadian Heritage–supported Canada Day event in the National Capital Region begin with an Elder-led opening; and
5. Track and publicly report progress on ceremonial inclusion in the Departmental Plan, setting measurable targets for July 1 2026.
- Open for signature
- September 24, 2025, at 5:03 p.m. (EDT)
- Closed for signature
- January 22, 2026, at 5:03 p.m. (EDT)
