The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was created by the United Nations in 2007. Canada endorsed UNDRIP in 2016 and enshrined it into federal law through the UN Declaration of the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act in 2021.
Find the government of Canada's response to implementing UNDRIP (the 2021 law, the Action Plan, annual reports, and videos here:
https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/declaration/index.html
This video provides a background on UNDRIP:
This video explores how UNDRIP Changes Canada’s Relationship with Indigenous Peoples:
Follow this link to the government of BC's website on DRIPA:
This video, put out by the government of BC, highlights prominent Indigenous leaders' response to the DRIPA legislation.
Critical Thinking Questions:
-If the Universal Declaration of Human Rights applies to everyone, why was a specific declaration for Indigenous Peoples necessary?
-Most Canadian laws focus on individual rights. Why is the recognition of collective rights essential for the survival of Indigenous cultures?
- UNDRIP was adopted by the UN in 2007, but Canada only passed the federal UNDRIP Act in 2021. Why did it take over a decade for Canada to move from "objector" to "supporter" to "legislator"?
- British Columbia was the first province to pass legislation (DRIPA) to align its laws with UNDRIP. How does having a provincial law change the "power dynamic" between the BC government and First Nations compared to provinces without such a law?
-Free, Prior, and Informed Consent (FPIC): Article 32 of UNDRIP requires "free, prior and informed consent" for projects affecting Indigenous lands. What is your understanding of this phrase? How will it affect resource development in BC?
- UNDRIP emphasizes the right to self-determination. What does "self-determination" look like in practice for a local Indigenous Nation?
-How can UNDRIP be used as a tool to address historical wrongs, such as the legacy of Residential Schools or the "Sixties Scoop"?
