Dawson City Council Refuses Oath to King, Sparking Controversy

The newly elected council of Dawson City faces a legal impasse after members, led by mayor-elect Stephen Johnson, refuse to take the oath of allegiance to King Charles III. This act of solidarity with an indigenous council member stems from historical grievances with the Crown. As the local government awaits potential alternative oaths, opinions within the community remain divided on the significance of the royal pledge.

 

Dawson City, a community of approximately 2,400 residents in Canada’s Yukon Territory, finds its local government in a quandary as newly elected officials, including mayor-elect Stephen Johnson, have chosen not to take the required oath of allegiance to King Charles III. This decision follows their elections last month and has delayed the swearing-in ceremony, preventing the council from executing any official duties.

Johnson indicated that their refusal is an act of solidarity with an indigenous council member, Darwyn Lynn, who has expressed discomfort with pledging loyalty to the monarchy in light of the Crown's historical treatment of Canada’s indigenous peoples. "This is being done with no disrespect to His Majesty King Charles," Johnson conveyed in an interview. He emphasized that their stance is not intended to provoke animosity towards the monarchy but rather to express unity within local governance.

According to Yukon law, newly elected officials must take their oaths within 40 days or face disqualification, which for Dawson’s council means a deadline of December 9. Until a resolution is found, officials are unable to make necessary decisions, leaving Mayor-elect Johnson in a challenging position. "We can’t do anything legally required of us under the Municipal Act," he remarked.

In response to the standoff, the council has approached Yukon’s provincial authorities with a request to consider an alternative oath, though the Department of Community Services has yet to provide any feedback on the matter. Outgoing mayor Bill Kendrick expressed hope for a resolution, highlighting the diverse community perspectives on the issue. He noted that some residents view the royal oath as outdated, while others see it as integral to Canada’s governmental framework.

Dawson City’s history is deeply intertwined with the Klondike Gold Rush of 1896, and it occupies a site once inhabited by the Tr’ondëk Hwëch’in First Nation. The Gold Rush significantly altered the local demographic, leading to the displacement of indigenous people. In recent years, Canada has begun recognizing and reconciling its complex relationship with these communities. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has publicly acknowledged the colonial history as one of "humiliation, neglect, and abuse."

This situation in Dawson City is not unprecedented; in 2022, Quebec successfully passed legislation eliminating the obligatory oath to the monarchy for elected officials, with one advocate referring to it as a "relic from the past." There are ongoing discussions in the country about the relevance and necessity of such oaths, indicating a broader reevaluation of the monarchy’s symbolic role in Canadian governance.