United nations declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples (undrip) legislation finally becomes law

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh made the following statement on UNDRIP bill receiving Royal Assent:

“Yesterday as we celebrated the lives, cultures and contributions of Indigenous peoples, we also acknowledged the importance of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples finally becoming law.

The passage of UNDRIP would not have happened without the hard work of First Nations, Métis and Inuit leadership. People like former NDP MP Romeo Saganash have led the push to harmonize Canada's laws with UNDRIP through Parliament since 2015.

In order to honour their work and make the changes needed, the federal government must not treat this as a symbolic step. Instead, UNDRIP has to be used to reform Canadian laws and institutions that have been used to perpetuate discrimination against Indigenous peoples for over 150 years.

After years in power, the Liberal government has only implemented a few of the Truth and Reconciliation Commissions' calls to action. Under Justin Trudeau's leadership, this government has failed to ensure Indigenous women and girls are safe from violence.

The government continues to underfund housing for Indigenous communities and there is still no Indigenous-led housing strategy for Indigenous people.

Healthcare for Indigenous communities remains underfunded and underserved.

Boil water advisories continue despite over two decades of nice words and commitments from the Liberals to ‘do better’.

Even after the discovery of hundreds of Indigenous children buried at residential schools in the past weeks, the government is still fighting Indigenous kids in courts. It’s unthinkable that the government continues to challenge their right to adequate healthcare services instead of compensating these kids.

Indigenous people continue to face disproportionate violence from police. They face discrimination when they apply for jobs, try to exercise their fishing rights, try to open a bank account and when they serve in Canada’s Parliament.

Indigenous people, their families and communities deserve better.

Symbolic measures aren’t enough to stop the genocide and racist actions against Indigenous peoples. The federal government has act to change these realities for First Nations, Métis and Inuit immediately.

New Democrats will continue to fight for meaningful collaboration with Indigenous leadership and proper funding from the federal government for the services and support Indigenous peoples have been denied.

Together we can ensure the UNDRIP is a first step toward real change for Indigenous peoples.”