Skip to content

Latest

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.

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 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 statement – UN 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 submission – UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. (EMRIP 2012)

  • Joint submission – UN 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)