Ottawa, 14 September 2012 – Following yesterday’s celebration at the Canadian Museum of Civilization marking the 5th anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, the president of the Canadian chapter of the Inuit Circumpolar Council (ICC Canada) called for “real action” on the Declaration.
“I would like to see Canada work with Inuit and other indigenous peoples in truly implementing the Declaration”, Mr. Smith said. “Yesterday it was important to celebrate the Declaration that recognizes our lands, territories, resources, and knowledge, and our rights to them. Today we must make the Declaration truly meaningful”.
At the celebration, Terry Audla, the president of the Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, Canada’s national Inuit organization, spoke to those who gathered. “Inuit know that indigenous peoples around the world face many of the same challenges and we express our ongoing support and solidarity with them”.
The celebrants also heard special guest, Luis Evelis Andrade Casama, Chief Counsellor of the National Indigenous Organization of Colombia talk about how the situation of indigenous peoples there pointed to an urgent need to implement the Declaration now. “We hope that mining companies and others wanting access to their territories will pay heed to the UN Declaration”, said Mr. Smith. “Just as we want to work closely with our Canadian government and industries on challenges relating to the accelerating rush to the Arctic, so do we hope Colombia and the mining industry sits down with Colombian indigenous peoples in the context of the Declaration”.
The Inuit Circumpolar Council represents Inuit from Russia, Alaska, Canada and Greenland on matters of international importance and fosters and celebrates the unity of Inuit. ICC Canada serves Canadian Inuit as their voice on international matters.
For more information:
Corinne Gray
+1 613 563 2642cgray@inuitcircumpolar.com