Ottawa, ON, Unceded Algonquin Traditional Territory - Department of Justice Canada
On August 20, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, tabled the fourth annual progress report on the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (UN Declaration Act).
The report provides an overview of Canada's progress in implementing the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UN Declaration), guided by the UN Declaration Act Action Plan released in June 2023. The report highlights key achievements and challenges over the past year, reflecting contributions from 58 First Nations, Inuit and Métis nations, organizations, and governments, as well as reports from over 41 federal departments and agencies.
This past year saw progress on many Action Plan measures, including:
- Incorporating a non-derogation clause into the federal Interpretation Act, ensuring that all federal laws are interpreted in a manner that upholds Aboriginal and treaty rights as recognized and affirmed in section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1982 (Shared Priorities Measure 2)
- Creating an Indigenous-led, independent UN Declaration Act Action Plan Advisory Committee to advise the federal government on key measures in the Shared Priorities chapter of the Action Plan, including Indigenous participation in decision-making and mechanisms for oversight and accountability (Shared Priorities Measure 22)
- Releasing the Indigenous Justice Strategy to address systemic discrimination and reduce the overrepresentation of Indigenous people in the criminal justice system (Shared Priorities Measure 28)
- Addressing border crossing challenges faced by Indigenous peoples whose traditional territories are divided by Canada's colonial borders (Shared Priorities Measure 52)
- Advancing access to federal services in Indigenous languages in alignment with the Indigenous Languages Act (Shared Priorities Measures 91 and 92)
- Co-developing an Indigenous Stewardship Policy requiring Parks Canada to develop Stewardship Plans with Indigenous partners for all protected heritage places it has a role in administering (Shared Priorities Measure 96)
- Addressing on-reserve infrastructure gaps by investing into infrastructure projects on-reserve (First Nations Priorities Measure 15)
- Addressing drinking water advisories in First Nations communities (First Nations Priorities Measure 16)
While significant strides have been made, the report also identifies key areas for improvement, including enhanced federal coordination, increased and predictable funding for Indigenous partners, and the development of clear, co-developed metrics to measure progress. Indigenous partners emphasized the need for meaningful consultation, transparency, and inclusion of diverse voices, particularly those of women, youth, Two-Spirit, and urban Indigenous communities.
The Government of Canada will continue to work with Indigenous partners and across all departments and agencies, to accelerate the implementation of the UN Declaration Act and ensure that the human rights of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis are upheld. Through continued partnership, we will build a more inclusive, equitable, and prosperous Canada for all.
