The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was adopted by the United Nations General Assembly in September 2007. UNDRIP consists of 46 articles that relate to the rights of Indigenous peoples around the world. The document establishes a universal framework to enshrine the individual and collective rights that constitute the minimum standards to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and to contribute to their survival, dignity, and well-being.
Canada’s Response to UNDRIP
In 2010, Canada’s federal government endorsed UNDRIP and, in 2016, officially adopted it and stated Canada’s intention to implement UNDRIP in accordance with the Canadian Constitution. In December 2020, the federal government introduced Bill C-15, The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act, which received Royal Assent in June 2021.
CAPP’s Response to UNDRIP
CAPP supports an approach to implementing UNDRIP in Canada that preserves and enhances opportunities for reconciliation. In 2016, CAPP publicly endorsed the principles of UNDRIP as an important framework for reconciliation, and during the 2021 parliamentary debates on Bill-C-15 identified important considerations for UNDRIP implementation.
- Download CAPP’s UNDRIP Discussion Paper
- Download CAPP’s UNDRIP Submission to the House of Commons
Truth and Reconciliation Commission: Principle 1, UNDRIP
The Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) defines reconciliation as an ongoing process of establishing and maintaining respectful relationships. In 2015, members of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada presented 94 Calls to Action. Call to Action #92 is directed to the private sector:
“We call upon the corporate sector in Canada to adopt the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as a reconciliation framework and to apply its principles, norms, and standards to corporate policy and core operational activities involving Indigenous peoples and their lands and resources. This would include, but not be limited to, the following:
- Commit to meaningful consultation, building respectful relationships, and obtaining the free, prior, and informed consent of Indigenous peoples before proceeding with economic development projects.
- Ensure that Aboriginal peoples have equitable access to jobs, training, and education opportunities in the corporate sector, and that Aboriginal communities gain long-term sustainable benefits from economic development projects.
- Provide education for management and staff on the history of Aboriginal peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous law, and Aboriginal-Crown relations. This will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism.”