As the challenges associated with the COVID-19 pandemic came to the forefront, the Centre has focused some of its energy on building understanding about the distinct impacts and intersections of emergencies and Indigenous rights. The Centre produced and widely distributed two background papers – “Emergencies, Indigenous Governance, Emergencies, and Jurisdiction” and “Indigenous Rights in Times of Emergency.”
These papers highlight the ways in which the pandemic may disproportionately impact Indigenous peoples and rights, and how taking long overdue steps to recognize Indigenous governments, laws and jurisdictions is vital to coherent emergency response. In the fall, the Centre anticipates further supporting public discourse on this vital theme through virtual dialogues and further papers.
This focus on Indigenous rights in times of emergencies is part of the on-going work of the Centre to help Indigenous peoples, governments, and the public move forward in a coherent and timely way with the work of implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP). Of course, here in British Columbia a focus of this work is on the development of an action plan pursuant to the historic Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act passed by the British Columbia government in November, 2019.
To support this work, in addition to the dialogues held and papers published (see the Discussion Paper Series on Implementing UNDRIP in BC), the Centre is now developing a short, widely accessible book that explains the importance and steps that all British Columbians can be a part of to advance the implementation of UNDRIP and the work of reconciliation.
In recent months, another focus of the Centre’s work has also been related to health matters. After reports of anti-Indigenous racism in the British Columbia health care system were brought forward, the Minister of Health asked that I lead an investigation and review of racism throughout the system. The investigation is now underway, and a report with recommendations is anticipated in the fall. Ultimately, the report aims to address the legacy of colonialism in the health care system, ensure Indigenous rights, including the Indigenous right to health is upheld, and anti-racist skills and mindset are present.
Update from Mary Ellen Turpel-Lafond, Aki-kwe, Academic Director of the Indian Residential School History and Dialogue Centre.