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International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples

A bitter anniversary for the rights of Canada's aboriginal peoples

On the International Day of the World’s Indigenous People, Rights & Democracy is pleased to acknowledge the Human Rights Council´s adoption in June, of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The United Nations Declaration establishes minimum standards for ensuring the survival of the 370 million indigenous people who continue to live in poverty, and who witness their cultures and languages threatened, and their land exploited by and for others. Even if it is not binding, this instrument is another tool that indigenous leaders can use to protect their rights and negotiate with the governments of the countries where they live.

At the Human Rights Council session, Canada voted against the Declaration despite recommendations to the contrary by the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs, and despite pressure from Canadian aboriginal groups, and religious and human rights organizations.

The government should engage in dialogue with representatives from aboriginal organizations and human rights organizations, debate and resolve the issues of concern to them, and create the conditions necessary for Canada to support the Declaration, which is the result of a ten-year process of negotiation with the international community.

The objective of the Declaration is to build relations between indigenous peoples and governments based on mutual respect with the aim of living together in harmony. With this in mind, Rights & Democracy invites the Canadian government to reconsider its position on the Declaration and vote in favour of its final adoption at the General Assembly.