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From the Office of Dr. Wilton Littlechild
April 09, 2008
Hobbema

Dr. Wilton Littlechild

Dr. Wilton Littlechild

On Tuesday, April 08, 2008, the House of Commons held a vote that Dr. Wilton Littlechild, Regional Chief of Treaties 6, 7, 8 (Alberta) describes as historical. The House passed a Motion that the Government endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007; this Motion also instructs that Parliament and the Government of Canada fully implement the standards contained therein. (more)

Press Release
Historical vote in the Canadian House of Commons

On Tuesday, April 08, 2008, the House of Commons held a vote that Dr. Wilton Littlechild, Regional Chief of Treaties 6, 7, 8 (Alberta) describes as historical. The House passed a Motion that the Government endorse the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as adopted by the UN General Assembly on September 13, 2007; this Motion also instructs that Parliament and the Government of Canada fully implement the standards contained therein. Chief Littlechild, as one of the authors of the Declaration, has been heard stating he is literally walking on air; and rightfully so as he has personally worked on this Declaration for thirty years. He was bitterly disappointed at the UN when Canada's representative to the General Assembly voted against the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. As a former Member of Parliament, he argued that the Declaration did not have any legal implications that would affect the Canadian constitution or Charter of Rights; in fact, as Chief Littlechild has stated, this is a new framework for better relationships between the government and the Indigenous peoples of the world, including Canada.

Chief Littlechild stated, "The opposition parties had previously gone on record supporting the Declaration; notwithstanding the government had continued to oppose the Declaration on grounds which had no legal basis and were unprecedented Canadian foreign and domestic policy.

Now with this new vote, we have a new decision in favor of the Declaration; and the decision now also calls on the government through the House of Commons to not only endorse the Declaration but clearly instructs Parliament to implement standards contained in the Declaration; standards of human rights for Indigenous peoples; to implement the article that call upon treaty partners to honour and respect treaties according to their original spirit and intent; and also to implement directly the right to self-determination with free, prior, informed consent.

I would argue this now means that when the government of Canada designs policy or legislation, they must be guided by the UN Declaration and in so doing will comply with other international conventions it has agreed to; so it will be very helpful, I believe, to bring about closer relationships between the government and Indigenous peoples' representatives. So as we argued before, it's a framework for better partnerships and therefore will help us find better solutions."

His final comment was, "I must acknowledge that it was our Elders who made the directive to be involved at the international level for the protection of our rights; it has been our Elders who have guided the work from the outset. It is very encouraging to see their wisdom and guidance come into effect, this indeed is historical."

The Regional AFN of Treaties 6, 7, 8 (Alberta) is the regional political representative to the national organization ensuring the AFN advocates effectively on behalf of the First Nations citizens of Treaties 6, 7, 8 (Alberta).

Contact Info: Regional AFN of Treaties 6, 7, 8 (Alberta) 780 585-2570

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Note from the Editor of Dialogue Between Nations

Additional information about Dr. Littlechild and his presence at the United Nations Dialogue Between Nations - Roll Call of Nations

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