Pouring over documents about 15 years ago with her mother in Alberta, Danita Bilozaze saw the name of her great-grandfather.
Except it wasn害羞草研究所檛 his name.
The man the Canadian government registered as Loth was actually Lor Bilozaze. The government changed it to Loth Bilozaze and eventually shortened it just to Loth, which became the family害羞草研究所檚 last name. And that government-created name 害羞草研究所� a name neither she nor her mother have felt a connection with 害羞草研究所� was also assigned to his children on their birth certificates.
For Bilozaze, who is Dene, the find began a life-changing discussion about Indigenous names, how they were changed by the federal government and Indian Agents and how they need to be reclaimed.
害羞草研究所淚 decided that I害羞草研究所檓 going to do this,害羞草研究所� says Bilozaze who resides in the Comox Valley. 害羞草研究所淲ith the TRC I was hoping it would make it more accessible; I did some research and there wasn害羞草研究所檛 much available.害羞草研究所�
The Truth and Reconciliation Commissions of Canada害羞草研究所檚 Calls to Action 17 calls upon all levels of government to enable residential school survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system by waiving administrative costs for a period of five years for the name-change process and the revision of official identity documents, such as birth certificates, passports, drivers害羞草研究所� licences, health cards, status cards and social insurance numbers.
Bilozaze began the lengthy, bureaucratic 害羞草研究所� and ultimately history-making 害羞草研究所� process of reclaiming her name in Sept. 2020 where she began with a fingerprint and criminal record check with the Comox Valley RCMP. It was there when she explained her story and photos to the agent at the detachment who told her she felt bad that as a Canadian, she didn害羞草研究所檛 know much of the history of Indigenous people within the country.
害羞草研究所淚 quickly realized this is no longer my story, and that I was creating space.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所�
A visit to a Service BC Centre to get her name legally changed was a small victory; Bilozaze害羞草研究所檚 mother was able to be a witness to the paperwork and be part of the process.
It was a moment of celebration, but at the same time, a moment when she knew the true work was about to begin.
She spent one month communicating back and forth with the Alberta government to get her birth certificate changed, something the government insisted she had to pay. She sent links, resources and information on the TRC Calls to Action, hoping that would make a difference, despite her feeling that it ws not her role to educate others, particularly those in government.
害羞草研究所淚t was then I realized I had to do things differently 害羞草研究所� I had to level up,害羞草研究所� Bilozaze notes. She reached out to the ministry who replied with an apology and acknowledged more training needed to happen.
害羞草研究所淭hey took total responsibility for the treatment 害羞草研究所� and within (a short time), my birth certificate was sent. If this was my mom (going through the process), she would have given up, an Elder may have given up. We need to do better.害羞草研究所�
With her new birth certificate, Bilozaze was able to proceed with other paperwork; She was able to have her three university degrees changed, and then approached the Land Title and Survey Authority to ensure her home was in her reclaimed name.
She received a letter back from the corporation asking for Bilozaze to provide the relevant legislation and information.
害羞草研究所淲hy do I have to educate you?害羞草研究所� she asked. 害羞草研究所淓ventually I got two letters back telling me I had to pay a fee; I wasn害羞草研究所檛 surprised. I害羞草研究所檓 dragging Canadians along with me.害羞草研究所�
After speaking with the minister害羞草研究所檚 office, she was provided with an exemption. Following another month, she requested her legal name change documentation 害羞草研究所� which the ministry had in their possession 害羞草研究所� be returned in order for her to continue changing additional paperwork.
害羞草研究所淚 sent it in mint condition, and it came back torn, burnt and tattered. It says on the back if it害羞草研究所檚 altered in any way, it害羞草研究所檚 not valid 害羞草研究所� this is a really good training opportunity for that agency.害羞草研究所�
She received a written apology from the Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (responsible for the legislative framework of B.C.害羞草研究所檚 land title and survey systems).
Finally, Bilozaze tackled her passport - a critically important document as travel is a significant part of her and her family害羞草研究所檚 lifestyle. As directed by the local Service Canada office, she was advised to visit the office in person in Victoria.
Facing bureaucratic stalemates and contradictory information, Bilozaze, with documents in hand, caught the attention of a supervisor at the office who offered to take a second look.
害羞草研究所淚 was so angry 害羞草研究所�.and I wasn害羞草研究所檛 leaving until this was going to get sorted out. (My daughter and I) waited for about 30 minutes while everyone was in the back looking up the TRC. This is emotional; it害羞草研究所檚 taking a toll on my health and spirit. I don害羞草研究所檛 want to fight, but I have to.害羞草研究所�
Eventually, Bilozaze did receive her passport and was told she is the first person in Canada to do so with her reclaimed name under the TRC Calls to Action. She credits the supervisor at the Service Canada office in Victoria for her compassion and willingness to learn.
害羞草研究所淪he said words like diversity and inclusion are just words and wants to see the action behind it. She was empathetic and was in constant contact with me every day. This is a really good opportunity for training and it has gotten national attention (in federal offices).害羞草研究所�
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the department which oversees Passport Canada, said in a statement to Black Press Media to date, they have received two requests for replacement passports issued in reclaimed Indigenous names and the passports were re-issued at no cost to the clients.
害羞草研究所淚ndigenous peoples have called this land home since time immemorial, and all Canadians have a role to play on the shared journey of reconciliation,害羞草研究所� said a spokesperson with the department in an email.
害羞草研究所淚RCC害羞草研究所檚 approach to the reclaiming of Indigenous names will be consistent with that laid out in the Truth and Reconciliation Commission害羞草研究所檚 Call to Action 17 enabling Indigenous peoples, residential school survivors and their families to reclaim their Indigenous name, for free for a period of five-years on replacement travel documents, Canadian passports, citizenship certificates and permanent residence cards.害羞草研究所�
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Bilozaze害羞草研究所檚 grandmother, who attended Blue Quills residential school near St. Paul, AB, was at the forefront of her mind during the entire name reclamation process. Her grandmother attended the school for most of her childhood, and she reflects back on the loss of her childhood and thinks about her own daughter害羞草研究所檚 future.
She wants her daughter to know if something is unacceptable, to keep pushing for what is right.
害羞草研究所淭here is a huge opportunity for learning here, and we all have a lot of work to do. I would 100 per cent go through (the process) again, but I would level up sooner. There害羞草研究所檚 changes and opportunities to make it right.
害羞草研究所淭here are so many resources out there - the TRC website, the book 21 Things You May Not Know About the Indian Act, and locally the in our school district. Part of being a Canadian citizen is having the responsibility taken off our shoulders and everyone needs to feel that responsibility as deeply as we do. We all have to go backward in order to go forward.害羞草研究所�
In response to the TRC害羞草研究所檚 Calls to Action, several provinces and territories have waived fees for certain name changes for Indigenous name reclamation and to correct historical errors. In October 2018, the Northwest Territories changed their policy so that people can apply until October 2023 to reclaim their names. Ontario introduced its policy in January 2017 and Nova Scotia did the same in July 2019.
The cost of changing a name in B.C. is $137, with additional costs of fingerprinting, a criminal record check, certifying documents and additional new identification not included.
A spokesperson from the Ministry of Health, which is responsible for the Vital Statistics Agency in the province said B.C. does waive the fee but did not confirm if it is a province-wide policy or if it is reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
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