I Welcome (and Warn) New Canadian Citizens ...

A couple times a month, I give a three minute speech to new citizens, as part of the IRCC Citizenship Ceremony (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada). It's the final leg of becoming a citizen of this country, where the Oath of Citizenship is taken.

Words are my livelihood. Storytelling is my life. So, when IRCC first approached me, I only agreed to do it on two stipulations:

• They do not alter my speech - uncut, unedited, uncensored
• They do not ask me to do anything performative (dancing, drumming, storytelling, smudging the audience, etc)

They agreed and I have been welcoming new citizens ever since. I consider my speech to be less of a welcoming, and more a warning. I present to you my three minute speech, in full:

START

Oki nistoo niitaniko O'mahk'siik'iimi Pii'tai'poyi

Hello, my name is Jason Eaglespeaker.

I will now use the colonizer’s language, in hopes we may understand each other better.

Welcome to Turtle Island! I am both Blackfoot and Duwamish, my ancestors have been here for thousands of years. I am an Author, Illustrator and Book Publisher. I have published authors from over 375 First Nations.

I was asked to be here today and welcome you to our beautiful stolen lands.

Indigenous, Aboriginal, Native, First Nations, Indian – it can all seem confusing at first, which one is “right”? You’re not alone in your confusion, even people who have lived here their entire lives are unsure. Honestly, they’re all “acceptable”, it really depends on who you’re talking to.

In this country there are over 600 distinct First Nations - each with their own unique cultures, celebrations, beliefs, traditions and languages. You’re basically surrounded. The differences between these First Nations are as diverse as the differences between the nations that every one of you comes from. The UK, Germany, Ireland, Scotland – all are European, but their cultures, celebrations, beliefs, traditions and languages are completely different – just like First Nations.

Completely overwhelmed? I completely understand. It’s tempting to generalize all First Nations people as having the same culture, the same celebrations, the same beliefs, the same traditions, and the same language – just one big homogenous group.

Instead, challenge yourself … in fact, I challenge you, each and every one of you:

• I challenge you to know more than your neighbors about local First Nations peoples and the lands you occupy.
• I challenge you to rigorously research the unceded Indigenous territory you build on, live on, work on, play on and benefit from – and what happened to the original inhabitants.
• I challenge you to seek out authentically Indigenous books and publications and websites.
• I challenge you to learn everything you can about the dark sides of this country and take an active role in the reconciliation process – by financially supporting Indigenous artists and businesses, by honoring events like National Truth and Reconciliation Day, and by questioning/calling out systemic racism practices.
• I challenge you to educate yourself about the treatment of First Nations people in residential schools, and the sixties scoop - and the undrinkable water on reserves, and the broken treaties, and the thousands of Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and the 94 Calls to Action from the Truth & Reconciliation Commission.
• I challenge you.

My time here is limited. I thank you for allowing me to be a part of your life for these mere moments. I hope my words resonate deeply, they are powerful seeds that will grow and flourish, if you tend to and nurture them.

Kiittamutsin (until we meet again)

END