And now:Ish <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> writes: Date: Mon, 12 Apr 1999 13:09:08 -0700 (PDT) From: John Shafer <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> X-Sender: wy430@vtn1 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: UN: Canada violates international law Message-ID: <Pine.GSO.3.95.iB1.0.990412124630.10879F-100000@vtn1> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII UN PANEL CONDEMNS CANADA'S TREATMENT OF ABORIGINALS The Vancouver Sun, April 10, 1999 Page A14 by Sean Gordon QUEBEC -- A United Nations human-rights panel has ruled Canada's treatment of aboriginals is in violation of international law and the social situation of first nations "is the most pressing human rights issue facing Canadians." In a report described as devastating by native rights activists, the UN Human Rights Committee said that by not implementing the recommendations of the 1996 royal commission on aboriginal peoples, the Canadian government is not complying with the international covenant on civil and political rights, one of the UN's key human-rights treaties. Aboriginal leaders hailed the report as a major turning point for native rights, saying it is further proof that the government gives short shrift to natives. "This is above our expectations, it's a great day for the Innu and the rights of all aboriginal peoples . . . we will no longer be beggars in our homeland, we have the right to benefit," said Armand McKenzie, a lawyer who speaks for Innu Council of Nitassinan, which represents 7,500 people in Labrador and Eastern Quebec. "This is important because it says the government has to revoke its practices regarding the extinguishment of aboriginal rights." An aide to Indian and Northern Affairs Minister Jane Stewart said the UN report highlighted concerns that the federal government has already acted on, and in fact commended Canada on its willingness to hold public consultations on native issues. "It does make reference to the declared commitment to work in partnership with aboriginal peoples, and goes on to also commend the government of Canada with respect to the Nunavut agreement," said Kelly Acton. In its report, the human-rights committee, which oversees international compliance with human-rights treaties, lauded Ottawa for its efforts at establishing self-government, though it said "all peoples must be able to freely dispose of their natural wealth and resources and that they may not be deprived of their own means of subsistence." With the Supreme Court identifying the concept of native title in the groundbreaking Delgamuukw decision, added to the recommendations of the royal commission, and now with the support of the UN human-rights commission, aboriginal leaders feel it's time to force the issue of resource and land rights. "This is a very stern rebuke, it's a drubbing," said Andy Orkin, a legal adviser to the Grand Council of Crees, which represents about 12,000 people in northern Quebec. "This is a very important development, and a pretty sad one . . . Canada plays international human rights boy scout, but to get a ruling like this in our own back yard demonstrates considerable hypocrisy." In addition to its pronouncements on native rights, the committee criticized Canada for its deportation policy, highlighted the growing number of homeless, and the provincial variances in the way the National Child Benefit is distributed. Its chief recommendation, however, was that the government take prompt action on the royal commission's recommendations, something the government insists is already under way. "The committee recommends that decisive and urgent action be taken towards the full implementation of the royal commission on aboriginal peoples" on land and resource allocation. "The committee also recommends that the practice of extinguishing inherent aboriginal rights be abandoned as incompatible with article 1 of the covenant [the right to self-determination.]" The UN committee said it was worried about the inadequacy of legal remedies for violation of native rights, and that it was "deeply concerned" that no thorough inquiry has been held into the death of aboriginal activist Dudley George, who was shot to death by the Ontario Provincial Police at a 1995 blockade in Ipperwash, Ont. "We will use this to denounce a government that is violating our rights to our land," said McKenzie said. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Canadian colonialism see: http://kafka.uvic.ca/~vipirg/SISIS/gustmain.html For more information on the murder of Dudley George, contact his brother Pierre George at [EMAIL PROTECTED] To demand Canada abide by international law! Prime Minister Jean Chretien: Email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Stop BC's crooked trick-or-treaty process and the Nisga'a FINAL agreement! BC NDP Premier Glen Clark: [EMAIL PROTECTED] SOVEREIGNTY IS THE ANSWER CANADA IS THE PROBLEM! &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&& Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) Unenh onhwa' Awayaton http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ &&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&&
