Endorsement of UN declaration welcomed by First Nations

Canada is now on board with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
The federal government has fully endorsed the declaration in a manner, it says, is consistent with Canada’s Constitution and laws.
“We understand and respect the importance of this United Nations declaration to Indigenous peoples in Canada and worldwide,” said Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan Nov. 12.
Duncan said the endorsement is a means to further reconcile and strengthen Canada’s relationship with Aboriginal people.
Shawn Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, shared a similar statement. He said Canada’s endorsement is a positive development that sets the stage for a new approach for stronger First Nations and a stronger Canada.
“Now is our time to work together towards a new era of fairness and justice for First Nations and a stronger Canada for all Canadians, guided by the declaration’s core principles of respect, partnership and reconciliation,” Atleo said in a press release shortly after the announcement.
Nishnawbe Aski Nation Grand Chief Stan Beardy said he was pleased Canada is living up to its obligations, both internationally and nationally.
Although the declaration is not legally binding, Beardy said it contains language that will be useful in discussions involving development in NAN territory.
“We congratulate Canada for taking this important step,” Beardy said.
However, Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee, of the Anishinabek Nation, believes Canada’s endorsement is “too little and almost too late.”
“In supporting the UN declaration, Canada took a step forward in its relationship with First Nations,” said Madahbee in a Nov. 17 press release, “but when it added conditions to the main components of the declaration, Canada took two steps backwards.”
One of four countries that voted not to adopt the declaration in 2007, Canada said it had concerns with the wording of the document. In its explanation of the vote, Canada said the declaration failed to give clear practical guidelines for member states of the UN.
The government addressed those concerns in its endorsement statement Nov. 12. The concerns are with certain sections of the declaration that deal with lands, territories and resources, free, prior and informed consent, self government without recognition of negotiations and intellectual property.
“These concerns are well-known and remain,” the statement reads. “However, we have since listened to Aboriginal leaders who have urged Canada to endorse the declaration and we have also learned from the experience of other countries. We are now confident that Canada can interpret the principles expressed in the declaration in a manner that is consistent with our Constitution and legal framework.”
Mahdahbee can’t understand why Canada waited so long to offer a “lukewarm” endorsement.
“They could have been one of the first countries in the world to sign on and call the declaration ‘aspirational’ and ‘non-binding’, instead of waiting until they are the second-last nation in the world to do so and say the same thing,” Mahdahbee said.
Since the 2007 vote, New Zealand and Australia have endorsed the declaration. The United States – the only country now left to not endorse the declaration – is reviewing its decision.