Citizen wants the federal government to fund the inclusion of Indigenous Community at Canada Day events

By Pepper Parr

October 6^th, 2025

BURLINGTON, ON

Sriti Mizan, a Burlington resident has initiated a  Petition that Burlington MP Karina Gould will indicated she will present to the House of Commons in January of 2026;

It reads as follows:

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 organizations need resources to host ceremonial leaders and knowledge keepers.

We, the undersigned, Citizens of Canada, call upon the Government of Canada to

1. 1. 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 organizers;
      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.

The Petition was open for signatures on September 24, 2025, at 5:03 p.m. The opportunity to sign the Petition will close on January 22, 2026, at 5:03 p.m. (EDT)

If you want to sign the Petition, click HERE.

What is the process used to get a Petition before the House of Commons.