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The latest news releases and public statements from the Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples are posted to this page. Endorsing Nations, organizations and individuals are provided in each statement.


Letter Regarding Canada’s Position on the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

The Honourable Mélanie Joly, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Global Affairs
House of Commons
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0A6


Dear Minister Joly,


Re: American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples


The Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples is writing to you to urge the Government of Canada to affirm its unequivocal endorsement of the American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the American Declaration). As a member of the Organization of American States (OAS), Canada is legally bound by the consensus decision made by the OAS General Assembly to adopt the American Declaration. No OAS State, including Canada, opted to call for a vote.


This is consistent with the Government of Canada’s commitment to the full implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (the UN Declaration). It is also consistent with Canada’s support issued at the Organization of American States’ General Assembly in June 2017 of a four-year Plan of Action for the implementation of the American Declaration.


Indigenous Peoples and supportive allies were highly engaged, along with government of Canada representatives, in the OAS negotiations of the American Declaration, recognizing the importance of a regional human rights instrument that complements and builds upon the UN Declaration.


We have attached for you a paper prepared by lawyer Paul Joffe on this subject, outlining in detail the imperative for Canada to fully endorse the American Declaration.


It is important for Canada to remain in a leadership position in the advancement of human rights in the Americas and globally. We view an announcement of Canada’s commitment to full implementation of the American Declaration as an essential step to take in this regard. We believe that Human Rights Day, on Sunday, December 10th, 2023, would be an appropriate time for this announcement as it affirms Canada’s position as a global leader for human rights.


Yours, in partnership and mutual respect,

British Columbia Assembly of First Nations

British Columbia Treaty Commission

Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)

Cheryl Knockwood, Chair, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

First Nations Summit

Indigenous World Association

KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives

Katsi’tsakwas, Ellen Gabriel

Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government

CC:
The Right Honourable Justin Trudeau, P.C., M.P. Prime Minister of Canada
The Honourable Arif Virani, P.C., M.P. Minister of Justice
The Honourable Gary Anandasangaree

Laurie Buffalo, Member of Samson Cree Nation

Naiomi W. Metallic, Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy, Associate Professor,

Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University

Sashia Leung

Professor Sheryl Lightfoot, University of British Columbia

Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs

Dr. Willie Littlechild, KC, IPC (International Chief for Treaties 6, 7 and 8)

Access the PDF version of this letter here.

Statement on the 16th anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

September 13th, 2023

The human rights of Indigenous Peoples must be respected and upheld by all sectors and at all levels of Canadian society

Sixteen years after the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration), much more needs to be done to bring these vital human rights standards to life.

In 2021, Canada became one of the first countries in the world to pass national legislation with the goal of fully implementing the UN Declaration. As highlighted by the tabling of Canada’s first implementation plan this June, the federal government must now take robust measures to ensure its laws, regulations, policies and programmes live up to its legal commitments.

The provincial government of British Columbia adopted its own legislated framework for implementation of the UN Declaration and, on March 30, 2022, released an action plan outlining 89 specific commitments.

In March 2023, the Government of the Northwest Territories introduced Bill 85, United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Implementation Act, which provides a framework for implementation of the UN Declaration at the territorial level.

All levels of governments have a necessary role to play in realizing the rights affirmed in the UN Declaration. The Coalition urges all provinces and territories to follow the example of the federal government and the governments of British Columbia and the Northwest Territories.

At the same time, the responsibility to respect and uphold the UN Declaration does not stop with government. All sectors of society must play their part.

The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada called the UN Declaration “the framework for reconciliation at all levels and across all sectors of Canadian society.”

The UN Declaration sets out a global minimum standard necessary to end and to heal the centuries of violent racism and discrimination that have been perpetuated against Indigenous Peoples, in Canada and globally.

The adoption of the UN Declaration by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007, was a crucial victory in the evolution of international human rights law. This historic achievement was possible because Indigenous Peoples worked for more than two decades to advance and build global consensus around a strong and powerful vision of self-determination, decolonization, and anti-racism.

The Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples calls on all public institutions, civil society organizations, and private corporations to work with Indigenous Peoples to implement the UN Declaration within their areas of responsibility and influence.

Schools and universities must include the UN Declaration in any lessons or courses about understanding human rights protections in Canada.

Hospitals and other healthcare facilities must ensure that nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals have the training necessary to uphold the minimum standards of the UN Declaration in all interactions with Indigenous patients.

Civil society organizations should be working cooperatively with Indigenous Peoples to develop joint advocacy strategies to promote public awareness of the human rights affirmed in the UN Declaration.

Corporations must work in partnership with Indigenous Peoples to implement effective due diligence policies to ensure their operations are consistent with the rights protected in the UN Declaration.

The Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples

This statement was endorsed by the following organizations and individuals:

Amnistie Internationale Canada Francophone

British Columbia Assembly of First Nations

British Columbia Treaty Commission

Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)

Cheryl Knockwood, Chair, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

First Nations Summit

Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government

Hup-Wil-Lax-A, Kirby Muldoe, Grassroots Human Rights Defender

Indigenous World Association

Katsi’tsakwas, Ellen Gabriel

Click here to access this statement as a pdf.

KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives

Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie

Musqueam First Nation

Naiomi W. Metallic, Chancellor’s Chair in Aboriginal Law and Policy, Associate Professor, Schulich School of Law, Dalhousie University

Professor Sheryl Lightfoot, University of British Columbia

Tl’azt’en Nation

Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs

Joint Statements from the Coalition | 16th Session of the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

This year, the Coalition delivered three statement on the floor of EMRIP, including on Item 9: Report Establishing Effective Monitoring Mechanisms for the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples which you can read in full below (or as a pdf). Also on Item 10: Intersessional activities and follow-up to thematic studies and advice, available here, and on Item 12: Future work of the Expert Mechanism, including thematic studies available here.

Sixteenth Session, 17 – 21 July 2023

Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Item 9: Report Establishing Effective Monitoring Mechanisms for the Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Thursday, 20 July 2023

Joint Statement of the Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples (Canada): Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee) Cree Nation Government; Amnistie Internationale Canada Francophone; British Columbia Treaty Commission; Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers); First Nations Summit; KAIROS (Canada); Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs; Cheryl Knockwood, Chair, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission; Ellen Gabriel, Kanehsatake Land Defender; Hup-Wil-Lax-A, Kirby Muldoe, Grassroots Human Rights Defender; Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie; Dr. Willie Littlechild, KC, IPC (International Chief for Treaties 6,7and 8)

Thank you for this opportunity to share our work in Canada on monitoring the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. We wish to thank the Expert Mechanism for the focus on this important issue through its substantive draft report and we encourage States to fully engage with this timely draft report.

We recommend that:

EMRIP urge States to centre Indigenous Peoples in the drafting and implementation of any National Action Plans in accordance with the standards of the Declaration.

Enhanced collaboration between civil society, academia, UN bodies, governments and Indigenous Peoples be supported to advance the implementation of the Declaration.

We were pleased to support the Expert Mechanism’s Seminar in Canada at the University of British Columbia this winter on the subject of Monitoring Mechanisms, and are grateful for the many informative and thoughtful contributions made during that seminar.

National Action Plan

After years of opposition to the Declaration, in 2021 Canada became one of the first Member States to pass national legislation to fully implement the Declaration, which included the requirement of a national action plan. The significance of this cannot be understated.

The release of this national action plan marks a promising – but flawed – beginning to Canada’s implementation of the Declaration.

This is the first action plan to be created under the implementation act and commits to numerous, important reforms and initiatives brought forward by Indigenous Peoples.

However, the plan also includes significant inconsistencies, from section to section and in respect to the actual requirements of the Declaration itself.

One of the most concerning of these is the repeated reference to “seeking the consent” of Indigenous Peoples. As noted in paragraph 15 of EMRIP’s draft report, the Declaration affirms Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination, including the right to grant or withhold consent to proposals that may have significant impact on their rights. Expert interpretation of the Declaration is clear that states must do more than “seek consent”: states must respect the decisions that Indigenous Peoples make for themselves, including when that decision is to say “no”. States cannot develop action plans with lower standards than the Declaration itself.

Current inconsistencies in the federal action plan reflect the misunderstanding and resistance to the Declaration that still linger inside many corners of government. This is why it is critical that strong oversight and accountability systems be put in place as soon as possible to ensure meaningful, ongoing involvement of Indigenous Peoples in bringing this action plan to life.

We recognize Canada’s efforts in releasing this National Action Plan, and indeed Canada is the first country to release such a plan. The Province of British Columbia also recently released their third annual report on the implementation of the Declaration.

As stated in EMRIP’s draft report, “To achieve the ends of the Declaration, it is important to view monitoring as a collaborative effort involving States, Indigenous Peoples, national human rights institutions, academia and international organizations.” As a diverse Coalition of civil-society organizations and Indigenous Peoples, we are honoured to assist in awareness-raising, lobbying and advocacy for the implementation of the Declaration.

Network Project

As noted in Section V of EMRIP’s draft report, “the kind of systemic changes required to operationalize the Declaration at the local level cannot ultimately be achieved without involvement of society at large.” Our Coalition is pleased to be advancing this work in Canada and globally by assisting in a global research project. This project is aimed at bringing together the resources of activists, community organizations, and academics to hear the views of Indigenous Nations and individuals on the Declaration.

Thus far, research engagements have been held in Haida Gwaii, Kahnawake, Kanehsatà:ke, and Samson Cree Nation. Soon this project will hear from Indigenous Peoples in Sápmi and Aotearoa.

Building on the relationships of Coalition members, this research has allowed the Coalition to gain greater insight into how the Declaration can be implemented directly in community, in accordance with the language, laws, and culture of Indigenous nations.

As a Coalition, we have many resources and other ongoing projects on monitoring the implementation of the Declaration in Canada, for further reference please see our many resources on implementation on our website: declarationcoalition.com


Public Statement

June 29, 2023

Joint Statement on the Release of Canada’s UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act National Action Plan: Effective oversight and accountability mechanisms critical to implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

A federal action plan tabled in Parliament on June 21 marks a promising – but flawed – beginning to Canada’s implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

The UN Declaration is the most comprehensive international human rights instrument affirming the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples and the individual rights of members of Indigenous Nations. Indigenous Peoples worked for more than two decades to have this instrument adopted by the United Nations.

After years of opposition to the Declaration, in 2021 Canada became one of the first countries in the world to pass national legislation to fully implement the UN Declaration, including adoption of a comprehensive national action plan. The significance of this cannot be understated.

The first action plan to be created under the implementation act commits to numerous, important reforms and initiatives brought forward by Indigenous Peoples, such as:

  • A commitment to formally withdraw the federal government’s longstanding, much criticized Comprehensive Land Claims and Inherent Right Policies and issue a public statement affirming that “the extinguishment of rights is not a policy objective.”
  • Exploring options to provide training on the UN Declaration to judges; and
  • Establishing an independent Indigenous rights monitoring, oversight, and recourse mechanism or mechanisms

However, the plan also includes significant inconsistencies, from section to section and in respect to the actual requirements of the UN Declaration itself.

One of the most concerning of these is the repeated reference to “seeking the consent” of Indigenous Peoples. The UN Declaration affirms Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination, including the right to grant or withhold consent to proposals that may have significant impact on their rights. Expert interpretation of the Declaration is clear that states must do more than “seek consent”: states must respect the decisions that Indigenous Peoples make for themselves, including when that decision is to say “no”.

Current inconsistencies in the federal action plan reflect the misunderstanding and resistance to the UN Declaration that still linger inside many corners of government. This is why it is critical that strong oversight and accountability systems be put in place as soon as possible to ensure meaningful, ongoing involvement of Indigenous Peoples in bringing this action plan to life.

In addition to the commitment to eventually establish an independent Indigenous rights mechanism or mechanisms, the plan also includes a commitment to create an advisory body. However, the action plan leaves it open to the government’s discretion whether and when this body will be called upon. This raises serious concerns about the meaningful involvement of Indigenous Peoples in the critical next steps of putting this initial action plan into place over the coming weeks and months.

Moreover, any oversight and accountability mechanisms must be properly funded and must be structured and supported to ensure that the rights of all Indigenous Nations, and the diversity of their needs and perspectives, are respected and addressed.

Canada’s National Action Plan cannot be interpreted in a vacuum. The Plan must be interpreted in the context of Indigenous Peoples’ right to self-determination, which is unequivocally affirmed in Canadian law and binding on federal, provincial and territorial governments. In the preamble of the federal Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the Government of Canada recognizes that “all relations with Indigenous peoples must be based on the recognition and implementation of the inherent right to self-determination, including the right of self-government”.

The Action Plan uses ambiguous terms such as Indigenous partners, organizations, groups, and representative organizations. The Coalition is concerned that this ambiguity may sow confusion regarding the collective rights of Indigenous Peoples, and therefore we feel it is necessary to state clearly that in international law, the term “peoples” is a synonym for “nation.” Only peoples or nations, not communities or groups, hold the right to self-determination.

The new action plan contains numerous positive initiatives, many of which are already underway. It is important, however, to emphasize that Canada’s UN Declaration Implementation Act requires consistency with the Declaration in all government laws, policies and regulations. The Act also requires that implementation be carried out in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous Peoples. These requirements must be upheld at every stage of rolling out this first action plan.

The Coalition for the Human Rights of Indigenous Peoples (www.declarationcoaliton.com)

This statement was endorsed by the following organizations and individuals:

Amnesty International Canada English Section

Amnistie internationale Canada Francophone

British Columbia Assembly of First Nations

British Columbia Treaty Commission

Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers)

Cheryl Knockwood, Chair, Nova Scotia Human Rights Commission

Click here to access this statement as a pdf.

First Nations Summit

Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree Nation Government

Lea Nicholas-MacKenzie, former Special Advisor on Indigenous Issues at the Canadian Mission to the UN

Professor Sheryl Lightfoot, University of British Columbia

Union of British Columbia Indian Chiefs

2023

  • Joint Statement at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues (UNPFII)
Senator Christmas voting in favour of Bill C-15, June 16, 2021

2022

  • Statement on the 15th Anniversary of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
  • Joint Statement at the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)

2021

  • Joint Statement at the Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP)

  • Public Statement on the passage of national UN Declaration Implementation Act: a milestone for Indigenous rights and reconciliation

  • Public Statement about Canada on verge of adopting long-overdue legislation to implement the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  • News Release on it being a critical moment for upholding the human rights of Indigenous peoples. Also available in French here.

  • Open Letter in support of implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

2020

  • Public Statement welcoming Federal bill to implement UN Declaration

  • Public Statement calling on federal and provincial governments to honour and uphold Mi’kmaw fishing rights

  • Public Statement for the anniversary of the global adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and national implementation is more urgent than ever

  • Joint Statement on the importance of not delaying the adoption of federal implementation legislation

  • Joint Statement on respecting Indigenous Peoples’ rights during COVID-19

2019

  • Open Statement proposed provincial legislation a crucial step toward reconciliation in British Columbia

  • Open Letter to all candidates in the federal election on why the next session of parliament must prioritize protection and fulfillment of the human rights of Indigenous peoples.

  • Joint Statement on Free, Prior and Informed Consent made at the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  • Public Statement from Indigenous human rights advocates that are horrified that handful of Senators blocked Bill C-262

  • Letter to Parliamentarians on how Stalling on Bills C-262 and C-337 undermines Canada’s democratic process, jeopardizes reconciliation and fails to protect human rights

  • Joint Public Statement on how Hyperbole and misrepresentation must not prevent Senate passing Bill C-262

  • Joint Open Letter to the Senate of Canada regarding Bill C-262

  • Joint statement on Sustainable Development at the 2019 UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

  • Joint Statement on Indigenous peoples’ Traditional knowledge, generation, transmission and protection at the 2019 UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues

  • Joint Statement on Conservative Senators jeopardizing crucial human rights legislation

Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2018
  • Joint Statement on federal, provincial and territorial interpretation and implementation of free, prior, and informed consent and its alignment with Canada’s human rights obligations

Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild at the United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 2018

2018

  • Joint Open Letter to all Senators regarding Bill C-262 and how implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is crucial to Canada’s commitments to reconciliation

  • Joint Statement on free, prior and informed consent EMRIP 2018

  • Media Release: Coalition welcomes House of Commons commitment to implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  • Joint Open Letter on how Bill C-262 provides a principled framework for implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  • Joint Statement on Indigenous Peoples’ lands, territories, and resources. (UNPFII 2018)

  • Joint Statement with specific recommendations for implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (UNPFII 2018)

  • Joint Statement urging Parliamentarians to embrace Bill C-262. (2018)

2017

  • Joint Statement urging Canada to stand by commitment to implement UN Declaration. (2017)

  • Joint Statement 10th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2017)

  • Joint Statement Indigenous Peoples’ participation in the UN system. (EMRIP 2017)

  • Joint Statement on sustainable development. (UNPFII 2017)

  • Joint Statement Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (UNPFII 2017)

2016

  • Joint statement Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (EMRIP 2016)

  • Joint statement Bill C-262: An essential framework for implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2016)

  • Joint statement Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (UNPFII 2016)

  • Legal analysis ‘Veto’ and ‘Consent’ – significant differences. (2016)

  • Joint open letter Nothing clean about Site C dam. (2016)

2015

  • Joint open letter to the Prime Minister discussing free, prior and informed consent and full implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2015)

  • Legal analysis of why the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is much more than just “aspirational”. (updated 2015)

  • Joint statement Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Who’s Afraid of Human Rights? (2015)

  • Joint statement: UN human rights report shows that Canada is failing Indigenous Peoples. (2015)

  • Joint statement: UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (EMRIP 2015)

  • Joint statement: Federal government should follow lead of Truth and Reconciliation Commission in recognizing UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as framework for reconciliation. (2015)

  • Joint statement Implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (UNPFII 2015)

  • Joint statement Eradicating Violence against Indigenous Women and Girls. (UNPFII 2015)

  • Joint statement – Outcome of the World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. (UNPFII 2015)

  • Joint commentary on the federal government’s response to Bill C-641 – UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act. (2015)

  • Joint statement calling on the Government of Ontario to withdraw plans for clearcut logging on the traditional territory of the Grassy Narrows First Nation. (2015)

  • In Bad Faith – joint report on Canada’s failure to resolve specific land claims. (2015)

2014

  • Joint submission Renewing the Federal Comprehensive Land Claims Policy. (2014) See also Paul Joffe’s a submission – Reconciliation and Federal Comprehensive Claims Policy. (2014)

  • Open letter Canada undermines Indigenous Peoples’ status and rights through unilateral action taken at Convention on Biological Diversity COP 12. (2014)

  • Legal analysis The Tsilhqot’in Nation Decision: Key Connections to International Law. (2014)

  • Response to Canada’s statement on World Conference on Indigenous Peoples Outcome Document: Joint statement – Canada uses World Conference to continue indefensible attack on UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; joint letter to the Government of Canada. (2014).

  • Joint statement – 7th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2014)

  • Joint submission describing flaws with draft decision prepared by the Convention on Biological Diversity. (2014)

  • Joint open letter to the government of British Columbia calling for the use of Tsilhqot’in decision as a framework. (2014)

  • Joint open letter expressing concern with the organizing and actions of members states leading up to the World Conferenc on Indigenous Peoples. (2014)

  • Joint statementUN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (EMRIP 2014)

  • Joint statement – Access to justice in the promotion and protection of the rights of Indigenous Peoples. (EMRIP 2014)

  • Joint statement – Northern Gateway Pipeline. (2014)

  • Joint statement – Human Rights and the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (UNPFII 2014)

  • Joint statement – Good Governance. (UNPFII 2014)

  • Joint Statement – Resource development in western Canada: Indigenous Peoples’ human rights must be respected. (2014)

2013

2012

  • Joint submission to the Office of the High Commissioner on Human Rights focusing on Indigenous Peoples’ human rights in Canada. (2012)

  • Joint statement on the 5th anniversary of the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2012)

  • Joint letter to Minister James Moore expressing concerns with the consultation process for Canada’s Universal Periodic Review (UPR) which failed to meet Canadian legal requirements and international norms.

  • Joint submission – Study on the role of languages and culture in the promotion and protection of the rights and identity of Indigenous people. (EMRIP 2012)

  • Joint submission – Extractive industries report. (EMRIP 2012)

  • Joint submission – World Conference on Indigenous Peoples. (EMRIP 2012)

  • Joint submissionUN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (EMRIP 2012)

  • Joint submissionUN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and need for procedural reforms in international organizations. (2012)

  • Joint statement – Doctrine of Discovery. (UNPFII 2012)

  • Joint statement – Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity Exceeding Its Authority and Undermining Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights. (UNPFII 2012)

  • Joint statement – Discussion on the rights of Indigenous Peoples to food and food sovereignty. (UNPFII 2012)

  • Joint statement – Undermining Indigenous Peoples’ Rights and UN Declaration: Urgent Need for Procedural Reforms in International Organizations. (UNPFII 2012)

  • Joint submission – Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) Voluntary Guidelines on Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests in the Context of National Food Security. (2012)

  • Joint media release in response to concluding observations from CERD: UN Committee calls for “comprehensive strategy” to uphold the human rights of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. (2012)

  • Joint media release in advance of Canada’s review by the UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD). (2012)

  • Joint alternative report submitted to CERD on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2012)

  • Joint alternative report submitted to CERD on the Nagoya Protocol. (2012)

2011

  • Factsheet on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2011)

  • Joint open letter to the Government of Canada issued to mark the one year anniversary of Canada’s endorsement of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Indigenous Peoples and human rights organizations highlight positive examples of implementation internationally which are in sharp contrast to Canada’s substandard approach. (2011)

  • Joint statement in support of the Hul’qumi’num Treaty Group’s hearing at the Organization of American States Human Rights Commission. (2011)

  • Joint statement from North American caucus. (EMRIP 2011)

  • Joint statement – implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (EMRIP 2011)

  • Joint statement Study on Indigenous Peoples and the right to participate in decision-making. (EMRIP 2011)

  • Joint statement – Free, prior and informed consent. (UNPFII 2011)

  • Joint statement on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (UNPFII 2011)

  • Dialogue with the Special Rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous Peoples – Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing: Substantive and Procedural Injustices relating to Indigenous Peoples’ Human Rights. (UNPFII 2011)

2010

  • Joint response to letter from the Minister (2010).

  • Joint statement – implementation of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (EMRIP 2010)

  • Joint statement – Indigenous Peoples’ Right to Participate in Decision-Making: International and Regional Processes. (EMRIP 2010)

  • Joint media release Indigenous Representatives Denounce Canada’s Obstructionist Position at COP10, Nagoya, Japan. (2010)

  • Joint statement Response to Canada’s Endorsement of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2010)

  • Joint media release and Open letter – Indigenous Peoples and civil society call for meaningful endorsement of UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2010)

  • Joint statement – Convention on Biological Diversity Revised Draft Protocol. (2010)

  • Joint statement – Convention on Biological Diversity Draft Protocol and the UN Declaration. (UNPFII 2010)

  • Joint statement – Canada’s endorsement of the UN Declaration must be consistent with human rights. (2010)

  • Joint statement on the 3rd Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (2010)