Anishinabek: UN Declaration too little, almost too late

UOI OFFICES (November 17, 2010) – Canada’s endorsement of the United Nations Declaration on Indigenous Rights is too little and almost too late, says Anishinabek Nation Grand Council Chief Patrick Madahbee.

“We can’t understand why it took Canada three years to offer such a lukewarm endorsement,” said Madahbee. “They could have been one of the first countries in the world to sign on and call the declaration ‘aspirational’ and ‘non-binding’, instead of waiting until they are the second-last nation in the world to do so and say the same thing.

“In supporting the UN declaration, Canada took a step forward in its relationship with First Nations,” said the Grand Council Chief, “but when it added conditions to the main components of the declaration, Canada took two steps backwards.”

“This is a country that has developed a global reputation as a champion of human rights, but its reluctance on this issue gives us an international black eye.’

Madahbee said the Harper government could still redeem itself by convening a summit on the UN Declaration and work in partnership with First Nations leaders to create a domestic action plan linked to the declaration’s principles, which include land, education and resource rights for the world’s 370 million Indigenous peoples..

Canada’s official statement on Nov. 12 expressed concerns with provisions of the declaration that deal with “lands, territories, and resources’ and “free, prior and informed consent”.

“Section 35 of Canada’s constitution does more than protect our hunting and fishing rights,” said Madahbee. “Like the UN Declaration, it says we have the right to govern our own affairs, but provincial and federal governments have dragged their feet on fully accepting this principle.

“If they persist in this approach – and continue to ignore court decisions saying we must be consulted on issues affecting our territories – the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples will be the tool we use to take our grievances to the international community. It is absolutely unjust that First Peoples in Canada continue to be the poorest and least healthy citizens in one of the world’s wealthiest nations.”

The Anishinabek Nation established the Union of Ontario Indians as its secretariat in 1949. The UOI is a political advocate for 40 member communities across Ontario, representing approximately 55,000 people. The Union of Ontario Indians is the oldest political organization in Ontario and can trace its roots back to the Confederacy of Three Fires, which existed long before European contact.