Residential school survivors and their families will be able to reclaim their traditional Indigenous names at no cost beyond January 2024. The action is being taken after the remains of 215 children we found buried at a former residential school near Kamloops, BC.
Starting June 2, 2021, Alberta survivors of the residential school system will never have to pay a fee to change their name back to their traditional one.
Minister of Indigenous Relations, Rick Wilson says its another important step in reconciliation and healing. “This will go a long way in retaining and protecting Indigenous culture for generations to come.” Wilson commented.
In 2019, the Alberta government started waiving fees for a period of five years, in response to Call to Action 17 from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and article 13.1 from the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Survivors of Canada’s residential school system or “the ‘60s Scoop”, and their families, may reclaim traditional Indigenous names by applying for a legal change of name directly through Alberta Vital Statistics. With a legal change of name certificate, the applicant may then apply to change Alberta vital statistics records, driver’s licences and/or identification cards to reflect their name.
The fees waiver will be extended indefinitely in the province.
-Erika Rolling, Trending 55 Newsroom
