Sometimes sorry is not enough…
Stand up for Aboriginal Rights
At the first Aboriginal Peoples' Conference in Winnipeg, delegates launched a new postcard campaign to draw attention to a series of issues facing Aboriginal Peoples. This is your opportunity to sign the card on line and tell the federal government that you expect them to take urgent action on these important initiatives.
The areas of focus for this campaign are:
Aboriginal Poverty:
Despite support from the previous government and a motion passed during Stephen Harper's first Parliament, the Conservatives refuse to honour commitments made in the Kelowna Accord. This denies First Nations' Communities $5.1 billion in spending for housing, education, and economic development.
Drinking Water:
There are currently 108 Aboriginal communities under boil-water advisories – some for more than a decade. It is unthinkable this situation would be allowed to continue in any major centre but for thousands of Aboriginal Peoples, it is a daily reality. The joint report prepared by the CLC, Assembly of First Nations and the Polaris Institute remains an important exposé of this systemic injustice and points the way to solutions.
The UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:
On September 13, 2007 the United Nations General Assembly adopted the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples by an overwhelming vote of 144 – 4. Canada, the United States, Australia and New Zealand were the four countries who voted against this important covenant. There are over 370 million Indigenous People worldwide and they urgently require international affirmation and protection of their human rights. Australia has since revisited their decision and signed on – we believe the federal government must do so too.
End gender discrimination against Aboriginal Women and their families:
In June of 2007 Sharon McIvor of the Lower Nicola Valley First Nation won a historic case in the B.C. Supreme Court. Ms. McIvor, after a 17-year ordeal, was found to be right in her view that the grandchildren of Aboriginal women should have the same status as the descendants of Aboriginal men. The Conservative government doesn't agree and is appealing the verdict to the Supreme Court of Canada. Adding insult to injury, they also scrapped the Court Challenges program, a non-profit organization set up to provide financial assistance for important court cases that advance language and equality rights guaranteed under Canada's Constitution. We believe the federal government's appeal should be dropped.
Sisters and Brothers,
There a number of urgent issues facing Canada's Aboriginal Peoples that are worsened by the recession that is currently upon us. Please take the time to learn more about these important matters and find out what you can do to help make a difference.
We also have postcards available for your workplace or community. To order yours, please contact Human Rights/Aboriginal Rights Program Officer Michael Desautels @ desautm@psac-afpc.com or by phone 613-560-4303.
Email your MP about this issue.
Date Modified : 2010/01/29
