During the 10-day visit to Canada by Francisco Calí Tzay, UN special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples, the Canadian government faces new demands to end violations of the rights of Indigenous peoples Nations, Inuit and Métis.

Calí Tzay and his delegation will tour Canada from March 1 to 10. The task of the Special Rapporteur includes reporting on the human rights situation of indigenous peoples around the world and addressing specific cases in which violations of these rights are alleged.

This visit comes at a crucial time for Canada’s relations with Indigenous peoples. By law, the federal government must publish an action plan to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). However, even though there are only a few months left to present the plan to Parliament, the human rights of indigenous peoples and communities continue to be seriously violated.

“It is time to make our reality visible on the international stage”

“This important visit will allow us to clearly articulate the issues and problems facing Indigenous peoples in Canada, including systemic racism, the adoption of the Joyce Principle, the humanitarian crisis regarding housing in Indigenous communities and, above all, the issues related to reconciliation,” declared Sipi Flamand, president of the Atikamekw Council of Manawan. In addition, this will allow us to make our realities known internationally.

“It is essential that the special rapporteur documents how the provincial and federal governments have long denied us our rights as First Nations,” said Marielle Vachon, president of the Conseil des Innu de Pessamit. We have always been ignored, our territories taken from us and our forests destroyed. It is time to make our reality visible on the international stage.

In collaboration with the Atikamekw First Nation of Manawan, the Grassy Narrows First Nation, the Innu First Nation of Pessamit, the Wet’suwet’en Nation and the Tsleil-Waututh Nation, the English and French sections of Amnesty International Canada have prepared a written contribution addressed to office of the United Nations special rapporteur on the rights of indigenous peoples before the visit of Cali Tzay. The joint letter denounces violations against indigenous peoples and their right to a healthy environment, the destruction of traditional ways of life and the failure of indigenous nations’ right to free, prior and informed consent on infrastructure projects that affect their territories.

“The gripping stories brought to us by our collaborators range from the most disturbing to the most alarming,” said France-Isabelle Langlois, executive director of the French-speaking section of Amnesty International Canada. “The experience of systemic racism is different for each community, but they all share certain traits: notably a blatant lack of respect for the natural environment, the right to preserve one’s way of life and the right to the enjoyment of the highest level high possible. physical and mental health under equal conditions.

“Nearly two years after Parliament affirmed that the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is applicable to Canadian law, Canada has made only minimal progress toward its promise to respect the rights of indigenous peoples indigenous. » Ketty Nivyabandi, secretary general of the English section of Amnesty International Canada. The government cannot make meaningful progress on reconciliation and right past wrongs if, at the same time, it continues to violate the rights of Indigenous peoples. As always, the best time to change course is now.

Indigenous land defenders continue to be criminalized

In its written submission, Amnesty International condemns the continued criminalization of Indigenous land and water defenders across Canada. Since 2019, the governments of Canada and British Columbia have harassed, intimidated, forcibly removed, and prosecuted members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation protesting the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline on their territories. In July 2022, Columbia Británica charged 19 defendants and defendants of the criminal offenses, in response to a 2019 judicial order that impeded gas pipelines, although they were not effected in the ancestral territory without permission. the community.

Since 2019, the governments of Canada and British Columbia have harassed, intimidated, forcibly removed, and prosecuted members of the Wet’suwet’en Nation protesting the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline on their territories.

“The UN has contacted Canada three times regarding abuses against the Wet’suwet’en Nation and its peoples,” said Chief Na’moks of the Wet’suwet’en Hereditary Chiefs. Today, the world needs to hear from Indigenous people about the human rights violations happening in what we call Canada. “We will meet with the UN special rapporteur to tell the truth and not just listen to a one-sided version of what is happening in Canada.”

Similarly, the Tsleil-Waututh Nation openly opposed the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion project, which the Canadian government approved without the free, prior and informed consent of the community.

“The expansion of the Trans Mountain pipeline and tankers is going all the way to the very center of Tsleil-Waututh territory,” said Councilor Charlene Aleck of the Tsleil-Waututh Nation. Our nation conducted an independent review of the project, based on our remaining Indigenous laws and supported by cutting-edge science, and found that it threatened our very identity as “People of the Bay.” On this basis, we refused our free, prior and informed consent.

“However, Canada continues to impose the passage of the project through our territories, despite its commitment to reconciliation and respect for UNDRIP. “Our members in Tsleil-Waututh have been harassed and criminalized for opposing the project, which significantly threatens our work protecting Burrard Inlet, the birthplace of our ancestors.

Demand justice for Grassy Narrows

In Ontario, the Asubpeeschoseewagong Anishinabek, also known as the Grassy Narrows First Nation, released the Grassy Narrows Land Declaration in 2018 and declared their Anishinaabe territory as a protected area and Indigenous sovereignty, in accordance with Indigenous law. In the declaration, they affirmed their right to self-determination to protect and care for their indigenous lands, including prohibiting mineral prospecting and extraction, industrial logging and any other industrial activity without their free, prior consent. and enlightened. The Ontario government, with the consent of Canada, continues to allow industrial land uses, which conflicts with the Grassy Narrows Land Declaration. This comes after decades of mercury poisoning among Grassy Narrows residents since the Ontario government allowed a pulp and paper mill to dump about 10 tonnes of mercury into the English and Wabigoon rivers.

“Our people continue to suffer from the mercury poisoning crisis without receiving fair compensation,” said Grassy Narrows Chief Rudy Turtle. Worse yet, Ontario continues to grant new mining leases and propose logging on our lands against our wishes. “It’s time for Canada and Ontario to respect our rights and support us in restoring the harms of mercury.

The observations collected by the Special Rapporteur during his trip will serve as the basis for drafting a series of recommendations to Canada on how to defend and promote the rights of First Nations, Métis and Inuit peoples. The findings, according to Nivyabandi, will have implications for everyone, not just indigenous peoples and communities whose rights have been violated.

“Indigenous peoples are on the front lines in the fight against anthropogenic climate change,” he said. “The future of our planet depends on their voices being heard. »