Canada under fire for vote against UN native-rights policy

STEVE LAMBERT

Canadian Press

September 14, 2007 at 4:27 AM EDT

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Aboriginal leaders, human-rights groups and the opposition blasted the Conservative government yesterday after Canada voted against a United Nations declaration on aboriginal rights.

They accused the government of trying to sweep aside an important show of support for aboriginals that took 20 years of negotiations among UN countries.

"By opposing this declaration, the Conservative government has signalled to aboriginal Canadians that their rights aren't worth defending," Liberal Leader Stéphane Dion said in a statement.

"This is a stain on the country's international reputation," said Phil Fontaine, head of the Assembly of First Nations. "It is disappointing to see this government vote against recognizing the basic rights of Canada's first peoples."

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The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples passed easily yesterday, 143-4. Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States voted against and 11 countries abstained.

Canada said it could not support the document because its broad wording appeared to give native communities sweeping powers that could contravene existing law.

"It's inconsistent with the Canadian Constitution, with Supreme Court decisions and with our own treaty negotiations and obligations," Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said from Ottawa.

Among the many problems with the document, Mr. Strahl said, are sections that say laws that affect aboriginals should be passed only with the consent of natives. "We'd have to consult with 650 first nations to do that. I mean, it's simply not doable," he said.

Mr. Strahl's critics argued that the UN declaration is not binding on any country, and is more of a symbolic commitment to aboriginal rights.

"It's an aspirational document ... it wouldn't contravene laws that are in place," NDP Indian affairs critic Jean Crowder said from Nanaimo, B.C. "I think [Canada's vote] is a very cowardly and, I would say, un-Canadian approach to human rights."

Aboriginal leaders, however, felt the document was more than just a vague expression of support.

"It recognizes who we are, that we have these fundamental rights," said John Paul, executive director of the Atlantic Policy Congress, which represents 35 aboriginal communities. "To us, it's like the U.S. Declaration of Independence, because it lays out a number of inalienable truths about us as aboriginal people in the world."