The Residential School History and Dialogue Centre is launching a new Discussion Paper series to help inform understandings and dialogue about the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
“Recent events illustrate the increasing need for advancing public awareness and education, as well as building shared perspectives, regarding the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Indigenous governance, and establishing proper Crown-Indigenous Relations,” says Centre Director Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Aki-kwe. “To advance this dialogue in British Columbia, the RSHDC has prepared a number of short commentaries on the implementation of the UN Declaration in BC, including in particular the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act.”
The discussion paper series will feature six articles, four of which are available for immediate release:
- Achieving Consistency between the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to the Laws of British Columbia
- “Indigenous Governing Bodies” and advancing the work of Re-Building Indigenous Nations and Governments
- Operationalizing Free, Prior, and Informed Consent
- Co-operatively Resolving Conflicts Through the Application of UNDRIP
Two forthcoming articles will highlight gender and inclusivity, and building an action plan to meet the objectives of UNDRIP.
These commentaries have been developed in dialogue with leading experts, including those on the front lines of driving forward some of the changes we are seeing. It is hoped that by sharing these perspectives, ever more informed, effective, and co-operative efforts will advance in support of true reconciliation. These papers are meant to be a starting point for advancing dialogue – and in particular for encouraging a wide range of perspectives from all backgrounds and viewpoints.
We welcome your feedback on these commentaries, as well as ideas you may have for other topics that would be helpful for us to focus on in the future.