'We can't wait forever': Indigenous man waiting for N.W.T. gov't to waive name change fees

The Northwest Territories government is delayingwaiving fees for Indigenous people that wantto legally change their names back to their traditional names after having told the CBCit would be changing thepolicy back in June.

Currently, the territorial government charges Indigenous people hundreds of dollarsif they want to reclaim their traditional names, which may have been altered in the past through colonizationand the residential school system.

I don't know why they're dragging this on.- DenenizeBasil, Lutsel K'e resident

It's been more than three years since the Truth and Reconciliation Commission made a call to action for all levels of government to allow residential school survivors and their families to reclaim names changed by the residential school system, and to waive fees for five years.

"I don't know why they're dragging this on," saidDenenize Basil of Lutsel K'e, N.W.T., who legally changed his first name from Jacob years ago.He says Denenizemeans both "among theDene," and "howDenelived in the old days" in Chipewyan.

CBCinterviewedBasil about his name change in June. At the time, he said he also wantedto reclaim his last name,Dzn, after his late grandfather's Chipewyan name meaning muskrat. But upon learning about the government's imminent policy change he said he'dwaituntil it'sfree.

"I've kind of been waiting for the government to make their choice, so I don't have that financial barrier in the way," he said.

The N.W.T.'s Health Department told CBC the policy change wouldbe announced the week of National Indigenous Peoples Day (June 21). In August, it said the announcement wouldbe in mid-September. Monday, a spokesperson said the change will happen "in the near future."

"It's kind of disappointing that it's taking this long to have what's ours. Hopefully it happens soon enough," said the 24-year-old Basil.

"We can't wait forever."

Currently costs more than $300

As of this summer, the only province or territory to have acted on the TRC's call to actionis Ontario, which introduced its policy in January 2017. Since then,less than 10 people in the province have had their fees waived to reclaim their Indigenous name, according to HarryMalhi, a spokespersonwith Ontario's Health Department.

Ontario's model allows anyone to reclaim an Indigenous name free of charge if the individual is a:

• Residential school survivor, seeking to reclaim a name changed through the system
• Spouse of a residential school survivor
• Direct descendant of a residential school survivor, or a spouse of a direct descendant
• Indigenous person seeking to change their name to a single name

Ontario is waiving fees until Jan. 11, 2022.

In the N.W.T., an average adult can paymore than$300for a name change on major supporting I.D.s and documents.

It'll mean so much to our people.- DenenizeBasil, Lutsel K'e resident

Currently, it costs $134 for a territorialresident to legally change their name. It's an additional $31 to change the name on adrivers licence,$33 to amend a birth certificate, and $33 to amend a marriage certificate, according to the government website.

There are no fees to change a name on a territorial health card.

To change a name on a passport, the federal government requires the full renewal fee of $120 for a 5-year passport, or $160 fora 10-year passport.

UmeshSutendra, spokesperson for the territory's Health Department, said Monday that it takes time for legislation to go through administrative processes and that the territory is working on the process to waive fees for residential school survivors and their families.

"It'll mean so much to our people," said Basil,adding he's happy about the positive change, acknowledging that the territorial government is starting to recognizeIndigenouslanguage and culture.

Taking back Indigenous names a 'birthright'

Basil saidit's Indigenous people's right to take back their traditional names.

"Our ancestors, they were born like that so why can't we be born with those names?" he said. "That's our right. It's our birthright."

Basil said neither he, nor his mother attended residential school, but his grandmother did. He notedthe five-year limit may be a short time frame and "a bit unfair," especially for the next generation who may want to change their names.

Basil said he hopes with less barriers, more Indigenous people will start to reclaimtheir names.

"I think that'll empower us and strengthen us," he said."The Chipewyan names are a part of us ...In ways, it helped me find myself."

Once the name change fee is waived, Basil is hoping his family members will follow after him.

"Sometimes I daydream, maybe if I'm the first one to change it, maybe my other family members will come back and change it too."

Do you have a story to share about your name? Reach Priscilla at priscilla.hwang@cbc.ca

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