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Indigenous Peoples have the Right to Self-determination

Message of support to be delivered to aboriginal representatives

Rights & Democracy is bringing together representatives of church and human rights organizations to declare their solidarity with Indigenous Peoples' struggle for their rights on the eve of National Aboriginal Day.

MONTREAL, 14 June, 2001 – Indigenous peoples have the right to self-determination - message of support to be delivered to aboriginal representatives

Rights & Democracy is bringing together representatives of church and human rights organizations to declare their solidarity with Indigenous Peoples' struggle for their rights on the eve of National Aboriginal Day. At a special ceremony at the Montreal Native Friendship Centre, at 12 noon on Wednesday 20 June, an open letter calling on Canada to support the United Nations Draft Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will be handed over to aboriginal representatives. The letter has been signed by a number of Canadian church and human rights organizations, including women's, students' and trade union groups.

"Indigenous Peoples have been, and continue to be, subjected to systemic and institutionalized racism, and we believe that this Declaration will be an important tool in combating these attitudes and policies," said Warren Allmand, President of Rights & Democracy, Minister of Indian Affairs of Canada in 1976-1977, and signatory to the open letter.

The Draft Declaration affirms, among other rights, indigenous peoples' right to self-determination which constitutes, according to the signatories of the open letter, " a minimum standard in the eyes of Indigenous Peoples and is fully consistent with Canada's other international commitments."

After six years of discussion at the United Nations, the Draft Declaration has still not been adopted. Canada's position has been somewhat ambiguous: the government declares support for most of the concepts contained in the draft, but it is at the same time seeking to modify the current text, which is unacceptable as far as indigenous peoples are concerned.

Rights & Democracy has expressed the hope that the Draft Declaration will be adopted before 2004, the end of the World Decade of Indigenous Peoples and has strongly urged Canada to declare its support at the UN World Conference against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance in Durban, South Africa, early September this year.

The ceremony will take place at the Native Friendship Centre, on the corner of St. Laurent Boulevard and Ontario Street, between 12 noon and 2 pm on Wednesday 20 June, and will be attended by a number of signatories to the letter, who will be available for interview. Refreshments will be provided.