The United Nations affirms that Indigenous peoples have the same rights, including the right to be different as any other peoples in the world.
All peoples in the world including Indigenous peoples contribute to humankind and no one people in the world is superior to any other. All policies or practices which are based on this idea are racist, illegal and unjust;
Indigenous peoples should be free from discrimination of any kind.
Through colonization Indigenous peoples have been dispossessed of their lands and resources and were not allowed to develop as they wished which is a violation of their human rights;
There is an urgent need to respect and promote the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples, especially lands, territories and resources;
The UN recognizes that Indigenous peoples are organizing themselves to improve their rights and to end discrimination and oppression;
Indigenous peoples can only maintain and strengthen their cultures, traditions and institutions by exercising control over the developments affecting their lands and resources based on their needs;
The UN recognizes that respect for indigenous peoples knowledge and traditional practices contributes to the proper sustainable management of the environment;
The presence of the military must be removed from First Nations lands which will in tum lead to peace, understanding and progress among peoples and Nations in the world;
The UN recognizes that First Nations families and communities have a shared responsibility for the upbringing, education and well-being of their children;
The UN recognizes that Indigenous peoples have the right to freely decide what relationship they will have with other governments based on co-existence, mutual benefit and full respect;
First Nations treaties and agreements with other governments are an international concern and responsibility;
Several important UN documents, including the UN Charter, recognize the right of self determination of all peoples which means indigenous peoples can freely decide their own political status and pursue their own economic, social and cultural development;
Nothing in this document can be used to deny Indigenous peoples of their right of self determination;
Government members of the UN should follow and put into place all international laws, especially human rights standards as they apply to Indigenous peoples in consultation with Indigenous peoples;
The United Nations has an important and ongoing role in protecting and promoting the rights of Indigenous peoples;
This declaration is an important step in recognizing and protecting Indigenous peoples rights;
Article 1. Human Rights
Indigenous peoples have the full right to all human rights recognized
under international law;
Article 2. Equality with Other
peoples
Indigenous peoples have equal rights and dignity with all
other peoples including freedom from any kind of negative
discrimination;
Article 3. Self Determination
Indigenous
peoples have the right to self determination. This means they can freely
determine their political status and identity and pursue their own
economic, social and cultural development;
Article 4. Strengthen
Cultures
Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and
strengthen their cultures and systems while at the same time having the
right to participate in the Canadian society if they so choose;
Article 5. Belong to a Nation
Every Indigenous person has
the right to belong to a Nation;
Article 6. No
Genocide
Indigenous peoples have the collective right to live in
freedom, peace and security and to be protected from the total destruction
of their nation or any act of violence including the removal by Canada of
Indigenous children from their families for any reason;
Article
7. No Ethnocide Or Assimilation
Indigenous peoples have the right
to continue to live as a distinct peoples and to be protected from any act
which would take away this right including taking Indigenous peoples lands
and resources, forced removal from homelands, the imposition of other
cultures on them or lies directed against them;
Article 8.
Indigenous identities
Indigenous peoples have the right to their
collective and individual identifies including their identities as
indigenous peoples
Article 9 Belong to Community
Indigenous peoples have the right to belong to a indigenous communities or
nations according to their own traditions and customs;
Article 10 Forcible Removal
Indigenous peoples have the right not to be
removed from their lands by force. No relocation shall take place without
their free and informed consent and only after adequate compensation is
paid or the option to return is provided;
Article 11 Protection
During Armed Conflict
Indigenous peoples have the right to special
protection and security under international law during armed conflicts
especially against other indigenous peoples. They shall not be recruited
for military purposes against their will, forced to abandon their lands,
forced to work under discriminatory conditions and under no circumstances
shall indigenous children be recruited for the armed forces.
Article 12 Return of Artifacts
Indigenous
peoples have
the right to maintain, protect, develop and revive their customs and
traditions in the past, present and future including sacred sites,
artifacts, ceremonies, visual and performing arts and literature.
Indigenous peoples also have the right to the return of their cultural,
spiritual or religious property taken without their consent;
Article 13 Practice Own Religions
Indigenous peoples have
the right to practice, develop and teach their own spirituality and
religious traditions, customs and ceremonies including the right to use
their sacred sites, ceremonial objects and the right to the return of
human remains of their ancestors; Governments shall help indigenous
peoples to ensure that indigenous sacred places, including burial sites
are preserved, respected and protected.
Article 14 Transmit
Histories and Understand Proceedings
indigenous people have the
right to use, develop, revive and teach their indigenous histories,
languages, philosophies, writing systems and literature and to their own
place names. Governments are required to ensure that indigenous rights are
protected. Indigenous citizens have the right use their own languages in
any court or administrative proceedings including indigenous
interpreters.
Article 15 Education rights
Indigenous children have their right to the same education provided to
other non- indigenous children. Indigenous peoples have their right to
establish and control their educational systems and schools, in their own
languages and cultures, using indigenous teaching methods. Dominant
governments shall provide appropriate resources to indigenous peoples.
Article 16 Public information
Indigenous peoples have the
right to have their cultures and histories appropriately reflected in all
forms of education and public information. External governments shall
strive to eliminate prejudice and promote tolerance, understanding and
good relations among indigenous peoples and all segments of society.
Article 17 Media
Indigenous people can establish their own
media in their own languages. They also have the right to equal access to
all forms of non-indigenous media.
Article 18 Labour law
Indigenous peoples have the rights to under national and international
labour law including a right against discrimination in employment, salary
and conditions of labour issues. Indigenous peoples have the right if
they so choose to fully participate in all decisions affecting them,
through representatives chosen by them, and to maintain and develop their
own decision making institutions;
Article 19 Participation in Decision Making
Indigenous peoples have the right if they so choose to fully participate
in all decisions affecting them,
through representatives chosen by them, and to maintain and develop their
own decision making institutions;
Article 20 Legislation participation
Indigenous peoples have
the full right to
participate through their own procedures in policy or lawmaking if it
affects them;
Article 21 Own Economic Systems
Indigenous
Peoples have the right to their own political, economic and social systems
including their own means of subsistence. Anyone deprived of their means
of subsistence is entitled to fair compensation.
Article 22 Special
Measures
Indigenous Peoples have the right to special measures for
the immediate improvement of their socio-economic situation. The needs of
elders, women, youth, children and disabled should get special attention.
Article 23 Right to Plan
Indigenous peoples have the right
to set their own priorities for development. They can develop their own
programs on health, economic development using their own institutions.
Article 24 Traditional Medicines
Indigenous Peoples have the
right to their own traditional medicines and health practices including
the protection of plants, animals and minerals. We also have the right to
access without discrimination to all medical institutions, health services
and medical care.
Article 25 Spiritual Ties to
Land
Indigenous Peoples have the right maintain and strengthen
their spiritual relationship with their traditional land, waters and
resources for future generations.
Article 26 Environment
Indigenous Peoples have the right to own, develop and control the total
environment of their traditional territories. This includes the use of
their own laws, traditions and customs and lands and resource management
systems.
Article 27 Return of Lands
Indigenous peoples have to
the return of their traditional lands and resources taken, used or
occupied without their consent. If not they should be fully compensated in
land of equal quality, size and legal status.
Article 28 Environmental Protection
Indigenous Peoples have
the right to the
conservation, restoration and protection of their lands and resources
including assistance to do this. Indigenous lands will not be used for
military purposes or for the storage or disposal of hazardous materials.
Article 29 Intellectual Property
Indigenous Peoples have the
right to own and control their intellectual and cultural property
including indigenous sciences, technologies, genetic, seeds, medicines,
flora and fauna, languages, literature, designs and visual and performing
arts.
Article 30 Resource Development
Indigenous people
have the right to determine their own priorities for the development of
their traditional lands and resources including environmental assessment
on projects affecting indigenous lands. Fair compensation will be paid to
indigenous peoples where damage has been done or to lessen the effects of
development.
Article 31 Self Determination
Indigenous Peoples have the right to self determination which they can
exercise through their right to self government including matters relating
to culture, religion, education, health, housing, employment, social
welfare, economic activities, land and resources management, environment
and financing self government.
Article 32 Citizenship
Indigenous Peoples have the collective right to determine own citizenship
according to their own customs and traditions including the structure
membership of their institutions.
Article 33 Justice systems
Indigenous peoples have the right to
maintain, develop
and
promote their own justice systems including traditional practices,
structures and procedures in accordance with international human rights
standards.
Article 34 Individual Responsibilities
Indigenous Peoples have the right to determine the responsibilities of
individuals in their communities.
Article 35 Cross Border Rights
Indigenous peoples have the
right to maintain their
relationships, customs, contacts, and spiritual, cultural, economic and
social activities with other peoples across international borders.
Article 36 Treaty Enforcement
Indigenous peoples have the
right to the recognition and enforcement of their treaties and agreements
with external governments according to their original spirit and intent.
Conflicts should be submitted to competent international bodies.
Article 37 Declaration Implementation
Governments shall
take effective action in consultation with Indigenous peoples to implement
this Declaration. The rights recognized in this document shall be included
in Canadian legislation which can be enforced by Indigenous peoples.
Article 38 Support to Implement
Indigenous peoples have the
right to receive financial support from governments to help implement this
declaration including the pursuit of their political, economic, social,
cultural and spiritual development.
Article 39 Dispute
Resolution
Indigenous Peoples have the right to a fair and
acceptable dispute resolution process and effective remedies for
violations of their rights. Decisions shall consider their customs,
traditions, rules and indigenous legal systems.
Article 40 UN Cooperation to Implement
The United Nations
shall make its bodies,
resources and technical assistance available to ensure the full
implementation of this Declaration
Article 41 Special UN Indigenous Body
The United Nations shall create a Special UN Indigenous body
to implement this Declaration. Indigenous peoples shall participate
directly with this body and all UN bodies will promote the full
application of this Declaration.
Article 42 Minimum
Standards
The rights recognized in this Declaration are a minimum
standard for protecting the rights of Indigenous peoples.
Article
43 Sexual Equality
All rights recognized in this declaration apply
equally to men and women.
Article 44 Non Extinguishment
This declaration cannot be used to diminish, extinguish existing or future
rights of indigenous peoples.
Article 45 Interpretation
This declaration does not give any right to anyone to do anything contrary
to the United Nations Charter.
Source : http://www.usask.ca/nativelaw/ddirplain.html