OTTAWA – AFN National Chief Perry Bellegarde participated in a seminar for MPs, Senators, and their staff on the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, urging all parties to work co-operatively with indigenous peoples on measures to adopt and implement the Declaration in Canada.
“You have an historic opportunity to work with us to ensure the human rights of First Nations are finally respected through concrete action all across this country,” National Chief Bellegarde told the MPs and Senators. “We must turn Canada’s unqualified support for the Declaration into action. We need to craft legislation that supports the Declaration and ensures all levels of Government in Canada respect and honour its principles. The UN Declaration provides a framework for reconciliation and the implementation of inherent Treaty rights, title and jurisdiction. The Declaration is a clear path forward.”
Bellegarde called on Parliamentarians to commit to working together to implement the UN Declaration, stating that Canadian law must be reformed to ensure it reflects and supports the UN Declaration and to create legislation supporting the Declaration.
