The UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples has just made a visit to assess respect for human rights. Indigenous communities and associations thus intend to denounce the “exasperating slowness of the Canadian government”.
José Francisco Calí Tzay is the UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, he is visiting Canada where he meets with representatives of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis. The objective of his mandate is to take stock of the situation of the human rights of indigenous peoples, everywhere in the world.
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In Canada, Aboriginal communities and associations intend to denounce the “maddening slowness of the Canadian government”, to the UN Specialized Rapporteur. According to them, the visit is timely, since the federal government must submit an action plan in the coming months to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
Rights of indigenous peoples
Sipi Flamand, chief of the Atikamekw community of Manawan in Quebec, hopes that the process will finally speed up: it has been seven years since the Canadian government committed to respecting the Declaration. “It’s tired of having to address the same issues year after year. It’s a major issue that needs to be changed,” denounces the Atikamekw representative who points the finger at Quebec, lagging behind compared to other provinces.
“The westernmost communities are in another perspectivedevelops Sipi Flamand. For example, the government of British Columbia has adopted the United Nations declaration on indigenous peoples, and, among other things, at the level of education, they have adopted policies that integrate indigenous history and cultures into their curriculum. Whereas in Quebec, we are far from reaching that.
There is already an article in the Canadian constitution that recognizes aboriginal rights, but according to Sipi Flamand, “it is not applied in practice”.
“Recognition is a fundamental element”
One of the subjects on which there are the most expectations in Canada is the recognition of systemic racism and discrimination, indicates Marjolaine Etienne, president of the association. Quebec Native Women : “When we recognize, there is a will to want to move forward. Recognition is a fundamental element”she pleads.
And especially for indigenous women, according to Marjolaine Etienne: “My big concern right now is the future of young people, young women and girls. There needs to be recognition of the role of First Nations women and the responsibilities they have in the transmission of cultural values and also of language.”
The president of the association affirms that there are still “a lot of work to do in terms of education and awareness” on indigenous peoples. It therefore expects tools and means to advance in the recognition of Aboriginal rights. The UN specialized rapporteur will deliver his first conclusions on Friday March 10, before making a detailed report in a few months.