In the heart of Winnipeg this past weekend, something remarkable happened that speaks volumes about Canada’s evolving identity. Twenty-four newcomers raised their right hands at the RBC Convention Centre during the Manito Ahbee Festival, taking their oaths of citizenship in a ceremony unlike most others across the country.
What made this moment special wasn’t just that these individuals from 11 countries were becoming Canadians, but that their welcome was rooted in Indigenous tradition and ceremony, connecting their new beginning to this land’s first peoples.
As drums echoed throughout the convention hall, the citizenship candidates were smudged with sacred medicines and presented with star blankets – powerful symbols of protection and community in many Indigenous cultures. Elder Dave Courchene performed the ceremony, explaining that this welcome represents something deeper than government paperwork.
“Being welcomed by the original people of this land means your connection to Canada begins with an understanding of who was here first,” Courchene told the group. “This is how reconciliation becomes more than just a word.“
The ceremony’s setting within Manito Ahbee, Manitoba’s largest powwow and Indigenous festival, wasn’t coincidental. Festival organizers have worked with Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada for three years to create this meaningful intersection between newcomers and Indigenous communities.
Katherine Lagasse-Wood, the festival’s executive director, sees these ceremonies as healing opportunities. “When newcomers learn about our traditions and history from us directly, it helps address misconceptions and builds relationships from day one,” she explained while watching families take photos with their citizenship certificates.
Among those receiving citizenship was Maria Gonzalez, who arrived from Mexico five years ago. Tears in her eyes, she shared how different this felt from what she expected. “I studied all the citizenship materials, but nothing prepared me for how emotional it would be to have Indigenous leaders welcome me personally to their traditional territories,” Gonzalez said. “It feels like I’m connecting to something ancient and ongoing at the same time.”
This citizenship ceremony reflects a growing trend across Canada where immigration officials are working with Indigenous communities to reshape how newcomers understand Canadian identity. According to IRCC reports, Indigenous-led welcome ceremonies have increased by 40% since 2021, though they still represent just a small fraction of all citizenship events.
Manitoba’s approach carries special significance. The province has one of Canada’s highest per-capita Indigenous populations, with First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples making up approximately 18% of residents according to Statistics Canada. It’s also becoming increasingly diverse through immigration, with Winnipeg welcoming over 15,000 newcomers annually.
For federal Immigration Minister Marc Miller, who attended virtually, these ceremonies represent a vital shift in Canada’s approach to welcoming newcomers. “Citizenship isn’t just about pledging allegiance to Canada as it exists today,” Miller noted in his address. “It’s about understanding the full story of this land, including the ongoing journey of reconciliation with Indigenous peoples.”
The ceremony included thoughtful touches beyond the official proceedings. Each new citizen received a beaded pin crafted by Indigenous artisans from Manitoba, along with resource packages containing information about local Indigenous cultural events, language learning opportunities, and community centers where they could continue building relationships.
Some observers have raised questions about whether such ceremonies risk becoming performative rather than substantive. However, Shannon Bear, a Anishinaabe community leader who helped organize the event, pushed back against such concerns.
“This isn’t about checking a reconciliation box,” Bear insisted. “These ceremonies connect newcomers with Indigenous communities at a human level, creating relationships that can grow over time. That’s real and meaningful.”
The ceremony also addressed uncomfortable truths. During her remarks, Elder Mary Courchene spoke candidly about residential schools and the ongoing impacts of colonization, explaining that true citizenship means engaging with Canada’s complete history, not just its celebrated aspects.
“When you understand where we’ve been, you can help us build where we’re going,” she told the citizenship candidates. “That’s what makes you not just citizens on paper, but people who belong to this land.”
For Amir Khadem, who came to Manitoba from Iran in 2018, this aspect of the ceremony was particularly moving. “In my citizenship classes, we learned facts about Indigenous peoples, but here I felt the emotion behind those facts,” he explained while his children explored traditional art activities nearby. “It changes how I see my responsibility as a Canadian.”
The day concluded with a shared feast where established community members mingled with the newest Canadians. Conversations flowed between tables as people exchanged stories about journeys to Manitoba and hopes for the future.
As the festival continued around them with dancing, singing, and celebration, these twenty-four individuals began their journey as Canadians with something precious – a connection to the first peoples of this land and an invitation to be part of writing Canada’s next chapters together.
Perhaps Elder Courchene summarized it best in his closing words: “Today, you haven’t just received documents. You’ve received a welcome from the original caretakers of these territories. Remember this moment as you build your lives here – you belong not just to Canada, but to a living history that began long before there was a country by that name.”
