Following up last week’s announcement by the Canadian House of Commons which called on the Federal Government to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, an announcement that had me believing pigs could fly, on Monday the (minority) government of Canada was kind enough to set the record straight.

During the first day of the OAS 11th negotiating session for the Draft American Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, they reaffirmed their opposition to the UN declaration — even going so far as to say they will no longer …

Can pigs fly? Well you may be surprised to know one skyrocketed passed the House of Commons on Tuesday. Amazingly enough, it happened just as the House announced their support of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

Courtesy of the Western Shoshone Defense Project (WSDP), here’s a joint statement on the matter (of the announcement by the House of Commons, that is)

Photo by abdallahh, modified and republished here under a Creative Commons License

UN Declaration on the Rights …

To my astonisment, the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights has been approved. The 192-member assembly voted 143 in favor and four against, with 11 abstentions. Can you guess who opposed it? Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States.

Despite looking at the concerns recently and previously expressed, I still don’t know what the big deal is. The Declaration is still non-binding…. But at least the 25 year effort wasn’t for nothing.

The question now is, what’s next? Do we sit back and wait for the magic?

Some …

The following comes from the Indigenous Peoples Caucus, via http://bsnorrell.blogspot.com. It’s a notice/invite to help get the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples approved…

I’ve studied the declaration previously, had some concerns over how a few things were expressed, but overall it’s really passed due for it to have some standing. Of course, at this point it’s not likely the declaration will really accomplish that much, because like all UN declarations, it’s an agreement of good faith rather than, something that can be enforced—but it’s no less a good starting point to (hopefully) help bring some sanity …

Well none of us should be suprised. Eventhough this declaration is non-binding (like all other UN declarations) it clearly proved to be too much for Nation-States to accept (in good faith.)

Who can blame them? Can you imagine Indigenous Nations having a right to their own territory (in principle)? Can you imagine Nation-States like Canada having to ask Indigenous Nations permission (in theory) to relocate them? Or indigenous histories, languages, customs, and traditions having (the conceptual) right to exist? I know, it’s unthinkable… and so the Nation States, remaining ever true themselves as Masters of their own Universe - agreed to …

First Nations Leadership Council Troubled By Today’s Vote at the United Nations Inaction on Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Inexcusable

BC -– After two decades of discussion and development, the slow pace of approval of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples came to a halt today at the current session of the UN General Assembly in New York. A resolution put forward by the Namibian delegation – in effect, a non-action motion on the Declaration – was supported by a majority with 82 Nation States voting in favour, 67 Nation States …

I’m putting this up reluctantly, because the AFN get’s an F too; also for the hypocritical irony of what Prentice says…

Native group to give Ottawa failing grade for treaties
Royal commission’s recommendations still being ignored 10 years later, AFN says
BILL CURRY

OTTAWA — Native leaders will mark the 10th anniversary of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples today, with the release of a report card that shows Ottawa has failed to act on the vast majority of its recommendations.

The Assembly of First Nations gives Ottawa an F in all areas dealing with the respect of treaties, which the commission …

by: Valerie Taliman / Indian Country Today

NEW YORK - The stage is set for a showdown at the United Nations between countries favoring adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples and a handful of nations - including the United States - that are actively opposing it.

The U.N. General Assembly, comprised of 191 nation states, is expected to adopt the long-awaited declaration within the next two weeks, pending political roadblocks that may delay its passage.

The nations opposing the declaration are the United States, Canada, Australia, Russia and New Zealand - countries with large populations of indigenous …

INDIGENOUS PEOPLES’ CAUCUS,
UNITED NATIONS General Assembly, 61st Session
NEW YORK
13 November 2006

COMMUNIQUE

The Indigenous Peoples’ Caucus held an emergency meeting this morning due to a report that a few States will take procedural actions to derail the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. This report is evidenced by the Government of Botswana’s statement delivered to the Third Committee on 10 November, which contained a highly inaccurate and prejudicial interpretation of the Declaration provisions. Upon review of this written statement, we note that Botswana has adopted the words and views of the governments of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, …

November 17, 2006 - by Joseph Quesnel — Canadian representatives at the United Nations are attempting to bribe African member states in order to buy their support for a motion to delay final passage of the UN Declaration on Indigenous Rights at the General Assembly in New York, alleged the chief of a prominent Manitoba Aboriginal organization.

“We heard of this at a recent international treaties summit. It is unsubstantiated,” said Grand Chief Chris Henderson of the Southern Chiefs Organization, at a press conference held in the group’s Winnipeg office.

Henderson went on to elaborate saying he was informed that …