Canada Endorses the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

On November 12th, Canada joined the majority of the world in supporting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). The Declaration is a non-legally binding human rights instrument which affirms universal standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of all Indigenous Peoples.

Adopted by the United Nations in 2007, the United States was one of four countries, along with Australia, New Zealand, and Australia, that voted against the Declaration. Australia and New Zealand reversed their initial positions, and now, with Canada’s endorsement, the United States remains the only country that has not yet endorsed the UNDRIP.

It is past-due time for the United States to endorse the UNDRIP. Unqualified support for the Declaration is fundamental to ensuring that the United States follows international human rights standards for Indigenous Peoples, who are among the most disadvantaged and vulnerable peoples in the world. In the United States, nearly 24% of indigenous people live in poverty. Endorsement of the Declaration is critical to demonstrating U.S. commitment to upholding the rights of, and addressing the issues faced by indigenous populations here at home.

In April 2010, the United States announced it would formally review its position on UNDRIP. While we are heartened by President Obama’s leadership in reviewing the U.S. position on the Declaration – we continue to urge that the United States endorse the UNDRIP immediately and without qualifications, affirming U.S. commitment to protecting the rights of Indigenous people both at home and abroad. Show President Obama your support for the UNDRIP by taking action NOW!

Eleni Orphanides contributed to this post.

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4 thoughts on “Canada Endorses the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

  1. canada,

    i ask you now,

    will you call for the return of Leonard Peltier, extradited beyond your borders on the basis of false affidavits from the fbi ?…..

    Will your police & army stop their invasions of Mohawk & other sovereign native lands ?……..

    Will the mounties be stripped of their settler – imperialist racism & power ? ……

    Will your companies halt the exploitation of indigenous earth & resources ? …….

    When will you cease to be "canada", canada ?

  2. canada,

    i ask you now,

    will you call for the return of Leonard Peltier, extradited beyond your borders on the basis of false affidavits from the fbi ?…..

    Will your police & army stop their invasions of Mohawk & other sovereign native lands ?……..

    Will the mounties be stripped of their settler – imperialist racism & power ? ……

    Will your companies halt the exploitation of indigenous earth & resources ? …….

    When will you cease to be “canada”, canada ?

  3. Dear Ms Chang,

    Thank you for your fine coverage of this important issue.

    i know your aim is the just one of having the US endorse this UN Declaration too.

    What you call canada's "joining the rest of the world" in "supporting" the Declaration is yet …. what i'd call "problematic" .

    canada has not adopted the Declaration, she has provisionally endorsed it .

    She of course ( as you'd well know ) still maintains her colonialist position that she has jurisdiction over indigenous Nations, & that native Peoples are subject to her laws.

    Her position denies the indigenous Nations the right to self determination, the right to determine their own ways of economic development on their lands, the right to free trade, & the right of their own free & prior consent to all policies regarding themselves & their lands & resources.

    canada …. & the US ……. still believe they can dictate to indigenous Nations the road to walk on this Earth.

  4. Dear Ms Chang,

    Thank you for your fine coverage of this important issue.

    i know your aim is the just one of having the US endorse this UN Declaration too.

    What you call canada’s “joining the rest of the world” in “supporting” the Declaration is yet …. what i’d call “problematic” .

    canada has not adopted the Declaration, she has provisionally endorsed it .

    She of course ( as you’d well know ) still maintains her colonialist position that she has jurisdiction over indigenous Nations, & that native Peoples are subject to her laws.

    Her position denies the indigenous Nations the right to self determination, the right to determine their own ways of economic development on their lands, the right to free trade, & the right of their own free & prior consent to all policies regarding themselves & their lands & resources.

    canada …. & the US ……. still believe they can dictate to indigenous Nations the road to walk on this Earth.

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