Dawson City Council in Turmoil Over Oath of Allegiance to King Charles III

The town council of Dawson City, Yukon, is in a stalled state after mayor-elect Stephen Johnson and council members declined to take an oath of allegiance to King Charles III due to concerns over the Crown’s historical treatment of Indigenous peoples. As the deadline approaches, discussions unfold about potential alternative oaths and the significance of allegiance in a post-colonial context.

Dawson City, a town in Canada's Yukon Territory with a population of around 2,400, is facing a constitutional impasse as newly elected officials, led by mayor-elect Stephen Johnson, refuse to take the required oath of allegiance to King Charles III. This decision stems from a desire to express solidarity with Indigenous council member Darwyn Lynn, who has vocalized apprehensions regarding the Crown’s historical interactions with Indigenous communities.

Under Yukon law, elected members must take the oath within 40 days of their election; failure to do so renders their positions null. This means the council has until December 9 to resolve the situation. Until the oath is taken, council members cannot legally fulfill their municipal duties, leaving Johnson in a position of uncertainty. “We can’t do anything legally required of us under the Municipal Act,” he stated in a Canadian Press interview, expressing the challenges posed by the standoff.

Johnson clarified that the refusal to swear allegiance was not a protest against the King, but rather a statement of collective unity in facing the ongoing ramifications of colonialism in Canada. The council has reached out to Yukon authorities to explore the option of an alternative oath. Officials from the Department of Community Services have acknowledged the request but have not provided clarity on its feasibility.

The community's response to the situation has varied, according to outgoing mayor Bill Kendrick, with some residents viewing the oath as antiquated and others defending it as integral to the Canadian governance framework. Dawson City, historically significant due to its role in the 1896 Klondike Gold Rush, is situated on land formerly occupied by Indigenous peoples, who faced displacement following the arrival of settlers.

In recent years, Canada has worked to acknowledge and reconcile its tumultuous history with Indigenous populations. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has openly discussed the lingering impacts of colonialism, marking a cultural shift in the nation’s narrative. The controversy surrounding the oath in Dawson City is not an isolated incident; similar discussions have emerged in Quebec, where lawmakers eliminated the requirement for officials to pledge to the monarchy, citing its outdated relevance.

As Dawson City navigates this constitutional challenge, the implications of their decisions might reverberate beyond local politics, influencing broader conversations surrounding Indigenous rights and the legacy of colonial governance in Canada.