[nativestudies-l] Canada Continues Offensive Campaign Opposing Declaration

[jkauanui at wesleyan.edu]

---------------------------- Original Message ----------------------------
Subject: Canada Continues Offensive Campaign Opposing Declaration
From:    "Les Malezer" <les.malezer at gmail.com>
Date:    Mon, April 21, 2008 11:49 am
To:      identity at lists.riseup.net
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[Aboriginal News]

Canada Continues Offensive Campaign Opposing UN Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples

News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 17, 2008

Coast Salish Territory/Vancouver - In a statement delivered to a
meeting of the Organization of American States Working Group to
Prepare the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous
Peoples (" OAS Working Group") in Washington DC, the Canadian
Government has declared that it will no longer actively participate in
negotiations on the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples ("Draft American Declaration").

Canada has formally reserved its position on the final text under
negotiation. However, if the final document "does not adequately
address Canada's concerns",Canada has indicated that it would attempt
to block consensus unless two conditions are met: the document adopted
clearly indicates that Canada does not support it and that there is an
explicit understanding that the text therefore does not apply to Canada.

In doing so, Canada has continued its offensive campaign against the
rights of Indigenous people in Canada and around the world by
maintaining its rejection of the United Nations Declaration on the
Rights of Indigenous Peoples ("United Nations Declaration") as the
"starting point or minimum outcome for further negotiations" on the
Draft American Declaration.

"In its statement to the OAS Working Group, the minority Conservative
government has again demonstrated immense disrespect for the human
rights of indigenous peoples", said Grand Chief Edward John of the
First Nations Summit political executive. "Canada's attempts to "pick
and choose" which humanrights standards apply to it violate the rule
of law in Canada and threaten the international human rights system.
We urge the Canadian government to play aconstructive role in
deliberations on the Draft American Declaration, to drop its
unreasonable conditions and to not block consensus on the final text."

The United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly adopted the United
Nations Declaration on September 13, 2007. Canada was one of only four
States to vote against the United Nations Declaration.

The rights recognized by the United Nations Declaration constitute the
"minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the
indigenous peoples of the world". The majority of American States have
supported the use of the United Nations Declaration as the baseline
for negotiations on the Draft American Declaration.

Canada's statement to the OAS Working Group directly defies the motion
passed by a majority of Parliamentarians in the House of Commons on
April 8, 2008 calling upon the Government of Canada to endorse the
United Nations Declaration, and for Parliament and the Government of
Canada to "fully implement the standards contained therein".

"OAS member states have a duty to ensure the minimum standards set out
in the United Nations Declaration are upheld in the draft American
Declaration" stated A-in-chut (Shawn Atleo), Regional Chief of the BC
Assembly of First Nations. "BC First Nations urge the Government of
Canada to continue working with OAS member states and indigenous
peoples to build on the important foundation of international human
rights standards set out in the historic United Nations Declaration.
Let us work together to leave a legacy for future generations that we
can all be proud of."

"Canada, under the leadership of Prime Minister Stephen Harper
continues to wantonly exploit the lands and resources of the
indigenous peoples of this country. It is despicable to witness the
lengths governments and companies have gone to use Canadian courts to
jail Indigenous people for protecting their territories," said Grand
Chief Stewart Phillip, President of the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. "We
call on the entire international community to witness that Canadahas
prosecuted and imposed jail terms on indigenous leaders of the
Agonquin Ardoch and Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug First Nations for
their efforts to protect the birthright of their children and human
rights of their peoples. Once again, at the international level,
Canada has disgraced itself by demonstrating its racist and highly
prejudicial attitudes towards the land and human rights of Indigenous
Peoples here in Canada and throughout the world."

-30-

The First Nations Leadership Council is comprised of the political
executives of the BC Assembly of First Nations, First Nations Summit,
and the Union of BC Indian Chiefs. The Council works together to
politically represent the interests of First Nations in British
Columbia and develop strategies and actions to bring about significant
and substantive changes to government policy that will benefit all
First Nations in British Columbia.

For more information please contact:
Grand Chief Edward John
778-772-8218
First Nations Summit Political Executive

Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
President, UBCIC:
250-490-5314

Ryneld Starr
BC Assembly of First Nations:
604-922-7733

The UBCIC is a NGO in Special Consultative Status with the Economic
and Social Council of the United Nations

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