November 12, 2010
By John Ward, The Canadian Press
OTTAWA - Canada formally endorsed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on Friday three years after being just one of four countries to vote against the pact.
The move, announced at UN headquarters in New York, was welcomed as a positive development by the Assembly of First Nations.
"It's something that we welcome," said Shawn A-in-chut Atleo, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations.
The endorsement of the declaration — non-binding statement of principles for dealing with native groups — fulfills a pledge made in the speech from the throne last March.
A government news release said of the declaration: "It sets out a number of principles that should guide harmonious and co-operative relationships between indigenous peoples and states, such as equality, partnership, good faith and mutual respect. Canada strongly supports these principles."
Indian Affairs Minister John Duncan said the endorsement of the document is part of an effort by the government to strengthen its relationship with aboriginal peoples.
"Canada's aboriginal leadership has spoken with passion on the importance of endorsing the declaration," Duncan added. "Today's announcement represents another important milestone on the road to respect and co-operation."
Foreign Affairs Minister Lawrence Cannon said the move shows Canada remains committed to promoting and protecting the rights of natives.
Canada _along with Australia, New Zealand and the United States _ voted against the declaration when it was adopted by the General Assembly in September 2007.
At the time, the government said it objected to some of the wording, including articles dealing with lands and resources and self -government. It said many of these rights should be negotiated, not imposed by the UN.
Now, it says it has decided it's better to endorse the declaration and explain its concerns, rather than reject the whole document.
The document, hammered out over 20 years of talks between diplomats and representatives of aboriginal groups from around the world, says indigenous peoples have a number of rights __to their lands, culture, and languages, among other things _ and that governments should work to protect these rights.
Atleo said he's pressed hard for the endorsement, saying he's raised it at every meeting he's had with Prime Minister Stephen Harper.
The national chief said he's not worried that the declaration isn't binding and does nothing to change Canadian law.
"I think it has an important role," he said. "It can provide us with a framework, with a guide, if you will.
"For example, one of the articles says indigenous peoples have the right to design education systems that work for them and let's get on with the work of forging a much better reality for First Nations education success."
He said it's a symbol: "It suggests that we have work to do and it's got to be done jointly."
Atleo said the formal endorsement is "a signal being made by Canada that they are prepared to work in partnership with us."
But he said much remains to be done.
"It needs to be about action," he said. "The endorsement is welcome, now it's about, let's set out a work plan that's going to achieve real change for the people."