A few weeks ago, there was a UN conference in which they were discussing the option of re-establish the protection of indigenous people and as unlikely as it seems, Canada was the only country to oppose this motion.  I believe it is unlikely because I agree with Perry Bellegarde (Chief of the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations) when he said: “Canada was viewed always as a country that upheld human rights”.

Being from Peru, I can understand how and why the First Nation Indians of Canada are feeling. In Peru, the Incas were conquered by the Spanish and they took all they could from us, including lots of resources such as gold, people as slaves, etc. Hence, I believe that they (First Nation Indians) have the right to ask Canada’s government for human rights and even more, the protection of indigenous people as it was part of the Declaration.

Furthermore, as it happening in Peru, indigenous people do not trust the government or other citizens (an issue which goes both ways) so the Peruvian government has created a special division called the MIDIS (Ministerio de Desarollo e  Inclusion social – Ministry of Development and Social inclusion)  which helps our indigenous people to be incorporated into the society so that they stop being treated/viewed as inferior citizens. Something which has been successful over this few years thanks to the use of media ads, human rights campaigns and a very important matter taught in schools. So what I am trying to say is that if the Canadian government is having trouble with this matter, they could try to have a similar approach.

Perry Bellegarde

References :

Canada Is The Only UN Member To Reject Landmark Indigenous Rights Document. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2014/10/02/canada-un-indigenous-rights_n_5918868.html

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