Canada adds Inuit qulliq symbol to approved military headstone emblems

Canada’s Governor General Mary Simon witnessed the unveiling of a new Indigenous spiritual symbol for military headstones at the National Military Cemetery in Ottawa on May 19, marking a milestone in the country’s effort to honor the cultural identities of its fallen soldiers.

The qulliq — a traditional Inuit oil lamp — became the third Indigenous spiritual emblem approved for optional engraving on headstones at the Beechwood Avenue cemetery, joining a small but growing list of symbols recognizing the diverse backgrounds of Canadian Armed Forces members.

Simon, who is herself Inuk and has championed Indigenous recognition throughout her tenure as Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada, presided over the ceremony at 10 a.m.

The addition of the qulliq reflects a broader federal push to ensure that Indigenous service members can be commemorated in ways that reflect their cultural and spiritual traditions, rather than being limited to emblems rooted in Western religious practice.