Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In March, the government introduced legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The declaration sets minimum standards to protect the rights of Indigenous peoples and to contribute to their survival, dignity, and well-being. The government says it wants to affirm the declaration as a universal human rights instrument that applies in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, there truly isn't more important work for this government to do but I question this government's commitment to truly implementing the declaration. Recent government action makes the government's commitment seem more like symbolism. The gap between words and actions has been jarring. First, what my colleague from Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh just mentioned. Also In December, while EIA was finalizing the MOU to implement the declaration and inviting Indigenous governments to sign on, the Department of Justice intervened at the Supreme Court to dispute whether the Inuvialuit child and family services law should bind the government. And, in March, on the same day the Premier introduced Bill 85 to legislate the declaration, the Premier tabled a draft homelessness strategy that made zero mention of the declaration or the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls.
Mr. Speaker, how can this government say it will implement the declaration while at the same time pursuing policies and actions that ignore or outright reject the principles of the declaration? This type of behaviour erodes trust - a trust that is already fragile and tenuous at best.
The Government has received only partial support in its approach to the declaration. Five of fifteen Indigenous governments and organizations have not signed the MOU, including:
- The Akaitcho territory government;
- Deh Cho First Nation;
- The Inuvialuit Regional Corporation;
- Sahtu Secretariat Incorporated; and,
- Salt River First Nation.
And even if the legislation is passed, the work of implementation will have to wait. The legislation would allow the government two more years to develop a plan for implementation without requiring any concrete actions beforehand.
Mr. Speaker, true implementation cannot wait. It means respecting the rights, dignity, and self-determination of Indigenous peoples now. As a white settler, I acknowledge the privilege I hold in not being subjected to the historical and present-day injustices that deny Indigenous peoples their inherent rights. And I lend my support, as an ally, in advocating for true rights-implementation in everything this government says and does. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.