The Council of Canadians denounces Canada’s position on Indigenous rights

Ottawa – The Council of Canadians denounces the Harper government for voting against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples on September 13, 2007 along with the U.S., Australia and New Zealand. 143 countries voted in favour of the Declaration.

“Despite strong support from all other main political parties, the Harper government has unilaterally reversed Canada’s historical support for the Declaration,” said Maude Barlow, national chairperson of the Council of Canadians.

Canada has been repeatedly criticized by the United Nations for the disproportionately high levels of poverty, lack of services and deplorable living conditions of aboriginal people across the country.

The Council of Canadians is demanding that the Canadian government show leadership on indigenous rights by supporting the Declaration and taking necessary measures to ensure justice for Aboriginal communities in Canada.

In a letter addressed to the Prime Minister last week, Maude Barlow said: “The legacy of human rights abuses of the 370 million Indigenous people around the world is appalling, as is your government’s decision to vote against a human rights declaration that clearly affirms the rights of Indigenous peoples.” (Read the letter)

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