Posted: Thursday, 20 September 2007

On September 13, after more than twenty years of negotiations and consultations among the members of the United Nations and with the engagement of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues, 144 countries adopted the historic United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. Canada was not among them.

Canada’s failure to support the long awaited Declaration last week is yet another retreat by the Conservative government from the advancement of human rights, equity and social justice.

The Canadian Labour Congress is profoundly dismayed that Canada was one of only four UN member nations voting in opposition, a reversal of years of support for the Declaration at the UN by Canada prior to 2006.

The Conservative government's refusal to support the UN Declaration is the latest in a series of setbacks in the fight to address long-standing aboriginal rights and development needs. Since coming to power the Conservative government has consistently failed the First Peoples of Canada.

The Conservative government reneged on the Kelowna Accord despite election promises by it's own candidates during the campaign who publicly stated their party was “supportive of the targets and objectives that were set at Kelowna.”

It has failed in its responsibility to address the unprecedented levels of poverty and social crisis suffered by First Nations communities due to unjust and discriminatory funding policies.

Now it has failed to support an international declaration, twenty years in the making, and supported by 144 countries around the world.

The Canadian government claims that the Declaration would hinder land claims processes in Canada.

We ask how can this Declaration further hinder existing land claims process that has resulted in years of backlog and lack of meaningful progress? Today, there are an estimated 900 specific land claims –those involving charges of breach of treaties which remain unresolved. At the present rate, it is expected to take 100 years to settle them all.

We note that despite the government's assertions to the contrary, the Declaration contains no less than nine preambular paragraphs and 15 operative articles requiring consultations, cooperation and partnerships between Indigenous peoples and States to settle land claim disputes.

Canada’s representatives to the UN argue the Declaration is flawed because the provisions on lands, territories and resources are too broad, unclear and open for a wide variety of interpretations'.

As the Chair of the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues has stated, the Declaration must be read in its entirety, in a holistic manner and related to existing international law. To do otherwise is continue to discriminate against indigenous people.

It is telling that Canada joined with three others countries, the United States, Australia and New Zealand to oppose the Declaration. The Conservative government has demonstrated that its international policies have more in common with those who have an express interest in continued exploitation of natural resources assets often found on indigenous territories rather than embarking on a new path for those who share this earth.

The Canadian Labour Congress recognizes the UN Declaration is a historic and significant document because many of the rights articulated require new approaches to global issues, such as development, decentralization and multicultural democracy.

Canada must step up to its historic international leadership role and embrace and realize the principles and values found in this Declaration.

We applaud the work of indigenous organizations, human rights allies, nations and governments who worked tirelessly for twenty years to have the UN adopt the Declaration this month.

The challenge continues for labour activists nationally and locally to work alongside aboriginal communities to ensure the respect, protection and fulfillment of Indigenous Peoples Rights globally will prevail.

Our struggle continues.