Minister Mendicino remarked that this “change means that Indigenous peoples can proudly reclaim their name, dismantling the legacy of colonialism and reflecting their true identity to the world.”

The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Carolyn Bennett, Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, and the Honourable Marc Miller, Minister of Indigenous Services, have announced an important change to ensure Indigenous peoples can reclaim their names on immigration documents.

The change, made in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action 17, offers the opportunity to all First Nations, Inuit, and Métis people to reclaim Indigenous names on passports, permanent resident cards, citizenship certificates, and travel documents free of charge for the next five years. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) had previously responded to requests based on Call to Action 17 on an individual basis.