Copyright © 2002 NLThomas
All Rights Reserved

First of all I would like to extend my appreciation to the media for attending this press conference today. I will share with you my observations and documentation of Canada's meeting with the committee that oversees the elimination of racism that took place in the United Nations headquarters on August 5th and 6th, 2002.

Then I will invite Mary Eberts, the Coalition's legal council will provide you with her conclusions.

I went to the United Nations in Geneva on behalf of the Coalition for a Public Inquiry into Ipperwash to present the neglect of an inquiry into the murder of Dudley George. I presented what is known as a "shadow report" to the 18 appointed experts that oversee the treaty body of the International Convention of the Elimination of all forms of Racial Discrimination, known as CERD in its abbreviated form.

This was the first time ever, that Canada has had any Non Government Organization representatives attend the CERD meetings. Aboriginal NGO's who joined me in lobbying from Canada were, Armand MacKenzie, representing the Innu Nation of Nitassin in Labrador, Ravyn Godwin and Nicole Hetu, representing the Skwelkwek'welt Protection Centre in British Columbia.

Norman Moyer, the Assistant Deputy Minister for Public Affairs and Communication of Canadian Heritage was the head the12 member delegation for Canada, lead the discussion by reading a brief of their report.

The Canadian Rapporteur, Kurt Herndl of Austria, lead the question period by thanking Canada for their report but warned that they should keep their reporting up to date as it has been 8 years since their last submission. According to the International treaty Canada must submit their reports every two years.

He began criticizing Canada for submitting an inconsistent report that did not give a comprehensive picture of measures adopted by Canada to implement the convention and does not help to understand the interaction between the federal and provincial levels.

He also suggested that if Canada does not understand the CERD and/or how to compose its reports he would be more than willing to assist them.

This is exactly the case in regards to Ipperwash as the federal government has been deferring the call for an inquiry on to the province when in reality Aboriginal people fall under the federal government's fiduciary responsibility as stated in the Indian Act. Dudley George was an Aboriginal man that was murdered on his treaty land.

Aboriginal issues dominated the committee's questions for Canada as 10 from the 12 members who spoke on the first day grilled Canada about its treatment of Indigenous peoples.

Canada was criticized for not implementing the Royal Commission of Aboriginal Peoples' recommendations into their legislature.

In regards to Aboriginal title, the Canadian Rapporteur said that Delgamuukw was a very important decision and asked , "What measures have been taken to implement this decision?"

Marc Bossuyt from Belgium added, "When will government policies allow that land titles are of the Aboriginal People according to the Convention of Civil, Political and Cultural Rights. That is the right to property, the right to dispose of personal property should be recognized." End quote

Kurt Herndl referred to the Ipperwash case directly and I quote, "In the case of Ipperwash, there we have a case where improvements of legal protection is of great importance." End quote

CERD committee member, Patrick Thornberry of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland questioned Canada about the next generation discrimination in Bill C-31 which phases out status entitlements.

He also had this to say about the First Nations Governance Act, "According to some information that we received, the process was boycotted by several organizations of Aboriginal people and because they held the consultations they were simply inadequate, and the whole process was inadequate."

The Chair of the CERD committee, Mr. Ion Diaconu from Romania made reference to the referendum in BC by asking, "What is the government doing to prevent the abolishment of treaty rights?"

Many other questions surrounded the Saskatchewan abandonment's that resulted in the death of four Aboriginal men, the high incarceration, homeless, and suicide rates of Aboriginal people.

Mr. Marc Bossuyt from Belgium had this to say to Canada in regards to its relationship with Aboriginal people, and I quote, "A lot of problems are carried over from history. Only when these problems are resolved then it will be possible for Canada to be a country free of racial discrimination." End quote

Canada's responses were vague and weak. They made references to their reservations about the World Conference Against Racism that took place in Durban, South Africa.

Mr. Jose A. Lindgren Alves from Brazil was quite interested as to what those reservations were and he was denied an answer to his question.

Upon speaking with Mr. Alves after the meeting he expressed his anger towards Canada for brushing off his question.

Canada's non-response was contrary to UN procedure as to not answer questions is not appropriate or professional and they violated UN protocol.

Norman Moyer, the Head of the Canadian delegation, expressed that committee members should have less time to ask questions and that he should have more time to respond. In my observations, it appeared that the committee members were taken aback by this remark.

The final and recommendations from the CERD committee will be put forth on August 23rd and those observations will be sent to us by the Secretariat as soon as they are made available.

After the CERD meetings had concluded the NGO's were invited to the Canadian Mission by the Canadian delegation.

During our meeting at the Canadian Mission, the Indian Affairs representative, Sandra Ginnish, said that " the Indian Affairs Minister Robert Nault supports that there should be an inquiry into Ipperwash and that he has made this a public record."

I am now calling on the Minister of Indian Affiars, Robert Nault, to immediately act on his support for an inquiry, as stated by Sandra Ginnish, and put forth the necessary motions by an impartial body, for an inquiry. I also ask that he uphold the federal government's fiduciary responsibility to the Aboriginal people as stated in the Indian Act.

I had the good fortune to meet with the assistant to the Special Rapporteur for Indigenous People. I was informed that the Special Rapporteur, Rodolfo Stavenhagen himself is considering a country visit to Canada next year to meet with Canada's Indigenous People. He is an expert on racism and the findings in his report holds GREAT WEIGHT in the office of the High Commission on Human Rights.

He is currently accepting submissions from individuals, communities and organizations that have complaints about the Canadian government and its treatment of Aboriginal people. Complaints must be sent to his office by mid September.

In conclusion, I would like to let all Aboriginal people in Canada know that finally we have been given the validation from the appointed expert minds from around the globe and who are well versed on international law as they confirmed to me that our human rights are in fact being violated.

I would like to invite Canada's federal officials to begin a meaningful and honorable consultation process with our leaders, eliminate racist policies and discriminatory legislation, and work towards creating a brighter future for our generations yet to come.

It is unfortunate that we as First Nations of this country have to travel to an international forum in a foreign land to try to find resolve to our domestic disputes.

Gone are the days of the uneducated Indian, Gone are the days of our complacency, and Long Gone are the days that Canada can hide its disparaging racism and discrimination of the original peoples of this land.

We are sovereign nations and we will continue to fight for our rights and land entitlements, and combat racism until we are recognized by the high courts of Canada, all of its provinces and territories.

For more information you can email me: stonedancer1@yahoo.ca

More information will be made available on the Turning Point web site.

Chi Meegwetch and thank you for your time.

Sharon Menow