Amendments to the Coat of Arms Act were introduced today for second reading in the House of Assembly. The proposed amendments seek to change the legal description of the Coat of Arms Act to add ‘Labrador’ to the name of the province and to remove the word ‘savages’ and replace it with ‘Beothuk’.

Changing the wording in the provincial Coat of Arms Act is part of the ongoing review of cultural symbols, observances and monuments.

As part of the review of the Act, input on the proposed changes was solicited through an on questionnaire. Approximately 200 people participated and almost 85 per cent agree that the legal description of the Coat of Arms Act should be amended to remove the word ‘savages’.

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“Actions that respect the culture and heritage of Indigenous peoples are an important step on the path to Reconciliation. These proposed changes are part of the process of building an inclusive environment in the province and a step forward in ensuring the Coat of Arms more accurately reflects the peoples and cultures of Newfoundland and Labrador.”
Honourable Krista Lynn Howell
Minister of Municipal and Provincial Affairs

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Learn more
Information on the Provincial Coat of Arms

Input from Consultations on Proposed Changes to Coat of Arms Act Available Online

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Media contact
Lynn Robinson
Municipal and Provincial Affairs
709-729-5449, 691-9446
lynnrobinson@gov.nl.ca