(June 5, 2026 – Unceded Algonquin Territory, Ottawa, Ontario) – National Chief Cindy Woodhouse Nepinak today denounced the move by the Senate of Canada to reject an amendment to Bill C-9, often referred to as the Hate Crimes Bill, that would have included Indian Residential School denialism as an offense.
“The move by the Senate to reject this amendment is regressive and a setback for survivors and for reconciliation,” said National Chief Woodhouse Nepinak. “Indian Residential School denialism is a hate crime and must be treated as a hate crime. There has always been wilful, ignorant denialism, but we now face a growing, organized movement of denialists trying to rewrite Canada’s history. We need to push back on these offensive lies and stand up for the truth. We lift up Senator Karetak-Lindell for her amendment and all Senators who supported it, but we’re deeply disappointed in their colleagues who rejected truth and justice.”
Earlier this week, Nunavut Senator Nancy Karetak-Lindell put forward an amendment to Bill C-9 that would criminalize Indian Residential School denialism. The amendment passed the Senate Human Rights Committee with broad support, but the amendment was rejected by the Senate as a whole in a vote of 32-41. The AFN has national resolutions from First Nations-in-Assembly calling on Canada to criminalize Indian Residential School denialism.
“We will continue to press Canada to work with survivors, Elders and First Nations leadership to create legislation or amend existing legislation to criminalize Indian Residential School denialism,” said the National Chief. “Canada has in the past amended the Criminal Code to penalize hate speech and denial. It’s time for legislation that criminalizes hate speech and denial of the Indian Residential Schools. This work is more important and urgent than ever, as we sadly lose more survivors and others who bore witness to the horrific reality of the Indian Residential Schools. Truth is essential for reconciliation.”
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The Assembly of First Nations (AFN) is a national advocacy organization that works to advance the collective aspirations of First Nations individuals and communities across Canada on matters of national or international nature and concern.
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