News Release
Also available in French here
Endorsed by:
Amnesty International Canada, Amnistie Internationale Canada, BC Assembly of First Nations, BC Treaty Commission, Canadian Friends Service Committee (Quakers), First Nations Summit, Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee)/Cree, Nation Government, KAIROS: Canadian Ecumenical Justice Initiatives, Laurie Buffalo, Councilwoman, Samson Cree, Nation, Ellen Gabriel, Kanien’kehá:ka Activist, Chief Wilton Littlechild, former TRC Commissioner, Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, Canada Research Chair of Global Indigenous Rights and Politics, University of British Columbia, Brenda Gunn, Professor Robson Hall Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, Dr. Mariam Wallet Aboubakrine, Présidente, Association Tinhinan Canada and member Tinhinane Sahel
Our Nations and organizations welcome the significant progress that is being made toward
adoption of federal legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of
Indigenous Peoples.
A House of Commons committee has completed its review Bill C-15 and forwarded the Bill for
third and final reading. Meanwhile, the Senate has begun a pre-study to expedite the Bill’s
passage through that Chamber.
Regional Chief of the BC Assembly of First Nations Terry Teegee said, “Implementation of the
UN Declaration in Canada has been a long time coming. I want to acknowledge all the hard
work that has gone into getting us this far. And I want to encourage all Members of Parliament
and all Senators to make every effort to ensure that Bill C-15 is passed into law before this
session of Parliament ends.”
Bill C-15 does not create new rights or alter existing rights. If adopted by Parliament, the Bill will
establish an ongoing legal requirement for the federal government to work collaboratively with
Indigenous peoples to implement the Declaration through law, policy and programs – and
report publicly on the progress made.