Posted by [EMAIL PROTECTED] : Date: Fri, 10 Dec 1999 13:23:57 -0800 To: (Recipient list suppressed) From: Ann Pohl <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Subject: Coalition Press Release: Federal Inquiry into Ipperwash or UN Again ********************************* December 10, 1999 - Media Release ********************************* ************************************************* Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash Postal: Box 111, Station C, Toronto, On., M6J 3M7 Website: http://www.web.net/~inquiry Telephone: 416-537-3520 Fax: 416-538-2559 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ************************************************* ******************************************************************************* On the anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the Coalition for a Public Inquiry calls on Ottawa to strike a Federal Commission of Inquiry into Ipperwash --- --- otherwise it's back to the United Nations. ******************************************************************************* "Today, December 10th, is the anniversary of the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights. The UN considers Canada the best nation in the world. Internationally, our human rights reputation has been held up as a standard to which other nations should aspire but our image is tarnishing at the speed of light, due to a number of factors. The unresolved nature of the Ipperwash Affair is a central element," said Coalition Spokesperson Ann Pohl at a press conference held in Toronto this morning. "As ashamed as we are about this decline, we will not be quiet about Canada's failures in the area of human rights. We are working with others, through Citizens for Public Justice, to put together another appeal to the United Nations Human Rights Committee." "Yesterday the most powerful Provincial government in Canada proved that they WILL NOT call the Public Inquiry which Amnesty International, the UN Human Rights Committee, Ontario's own Ombudsman and hundreds of Canadian and First Nations leaders and organizations have demanded. To settle this dispute at home, the Federal government must ACT NOW," continued Pohl. "With the Federal Reform party and like-minded interest groups whipping up anti-Aboriginal sentiments across the country, we may be hours or days away from another Ipperwash, another Oka or another Gustafsen Lake. Is that what it will take to make Ottawa do the right thing?" As part of the Coalition's lobby strategy for a Federal Inquiry, its members are writing the Honourable Robert Nault, Federal Minister of Indian Affairs, pressing for action: "A federal Inquiry into Ipperwash would go a long way towards ensuring that hot-headed local authorities, vigilantes, or others who might oppose Aboriginal Rights, NEVER AGAIN act independently on their biases and local priorities. Local authorities should follow a protocol which requires them to hand over responsibility to your officials when this sort of controversial protest occurs, because you and your staff are constitutionally responsible for "Indians and lands reserved for Indians"." Pohl released details on the Coalition's federal lobby campaign. Efforts made earlier in the year have netted support on the matter from the federal NDP, and the Coalition has secured a commitment to meet from the Bloc and P.C. critics on Aboriginal Affairs. Throughout 2000, the Coalition will continue to mobilize its vast network in labour, social justice, faith groups and Aboriginal communities to press Ottawa for this Inquiry. But, at the same time, preparations are underway for another international approach. "Our organization, Citizens for Public Justice, is part of the Coalition's network,' commented Harry Kits, Executive Director of CPJ which is mandated to promote justice in Canadian public affairs. "Yet, independently we have been extensively involved in solidarity with Aboriginal Peoples, such as the Innu, the Lubicon, and the Gitxsan. And, we have observed a pattern among the many issues we have taken up - seldom does an Aboriginal rights issue seem to get fully resolved." "About six months ago, " continued Kits, "we initiated a research project to examine the interconnections between these separate frustrations. We have been working collaboratively with a legal team, Aboriginal rights activists and human rights groups to define the nature of these barriers. After much analysis and dialogue, we have identified a primary and over-arching violation of Article 2 of the United Nations International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which guarantees the right to "Effective Remedy" . The right to effective remedy has not been secured in Canadian policy and practice, as far as Aboriginal Peoples are concerned. And the reasons for this are that Ottawa's bureaucratic structure for dealing with Aboriginal rights issues have inherent conflicts of interest which impact both the federal and the Aboriginal side in negotiations. Among other options, we are examining the possibility of appealing to the UN Human Rights Committee through the "Optional Protocol". This route was successful in acheiving the 1985 changes to The Indian Act." Unlike his predecessor Jane Stewart, who kept up an active correspondence with the Coalition, since coming into office last August Minister Nault has not responded to the group's letters and telephone calls. In Spring 1999, the Coalition released a legal opinion prepared by Constitutional Law expert Bruce Ryder, stating that Ottawa has both "the right and the responsibility to call an Inquiry into Ipperwash". The Department of Indian Affairs has not yet responded to this opinion. Aboriginal leaders, such as Marilyn Buffalo, National President of the Native Women's Association of Canada, have called on Nault to strike this Inquiry. Nonetheless, the group will continue to press for a meeting with him before making any final decision about the approach to the United Nations Human Rights Committee. Pohl did confirm that the UNHRC "Optional Protocol" approach is an attractive one to her core group as well as a number of organizations in the Coalition's network who are also involved in long-standing non-resolved human rights issues affecting Aboriginal Peoples. "It takes years to put together a case like this," explained Pohl. "While we're working on Minister Nault, we intend to start putting these pieces together. Many of us feel we're in this fight for our lives." - 30 - For more information: Ann Pohl - 416-537-3520 Harry Kits - 416-979-2443x24 Reprinted under the Fair Use http://www4.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.html doctrine of international copyright law. <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<> Tsonkwadiyonrat (We are ONE Spirit) http://www.tdi.net/ishgooda/ <><<<<<>>>>><><<<<>
