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Ktunaxa Interim Citizenship Code Referendum passes
Citizens of the Ktunaxa Nation voted to adopt an Interim Citizenship Code in a referendum on May 8.
“I am very happy with the results of the referendum,” said Rosemary Phillips, Treaty Negotiator. “As we continue to move forward with nation re-building, it is important that the Ktunaxa Nation decides for itself who is recognized as Ktunaxanin̓tik (Ktunaxa Citizens) as a part of self-determination.”
“This process began a number of years ago and for the last year and a half, we have had a committee working on the code along with numerous consultations in Ktunaxa communities,” continued Phillips. “This was a lot of hard work undertaken by a lot of people, and we still have much to do as we work towards achieving the Ktunaxa Nation Vision Statement around a ‘self-sufficient, self-governing Nation’ but this brings us one step closer.”
The Interim Citizenship Code does not supersede current Indian Act legislation. The federal government still makes the determination concerning who is considered a Status ‘Indian’ and the granting of Ktunaxa Citizenship to a person does not confer Indian Status to that person.
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