KN-Notice-of-Referendum-Mar-20-2019_FINAL
Ktunaxa Interim Citizenship Code Referendum Passed
May 17, 2019
Cranbrook/ʔa·kisk̓aqǂiʔit – Citizens of the Ktunaxa Nation voted to adopt an Interim
Citizenship Code in a referendum on May 8th
.
“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.
