UNDRIP

The ‘United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples’ (UNDRIP) focuses on the most important concerns that affect Indigenous communities. UNDRIP was first created in 1982 (2) by a group called the ‘Working Group on Indigenous Populations’ (3, 4). Their main motivations stemmed from the oppression that Indigenous peoples frequently experience, resulting in many decades of drafting sequences until this declaration was officially adopted (1, 2, 3). The first draft declaration submission to the sub-commission on the ‘Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities’ was approved in 1994 (4) and new revisions are continuously being made to satisfy concerns found by different States. A major disagreement within this declaration involved the right to self-determination and control over natural resources on Indigenous lands (3). After years of revision, UNDRIP was accepted by the United Nations General Assembly (2). The official agreement contained 46 different articles describing specific rights and protocols to ensure the protection of Indigenous peoples (3). In order to guarantee that Indigenous populations can have an overall greater quality of life and cooperate with government officials, specific themes are prioritized throughout this declaration (1). In 2007, UNDRIP was accepted by the majority of 144 nations (3, 4). Canada initially did not sign on; but has since reverted their initial response and voted in favour of this declaration (3, 4). As of April 2009, 182 nation-states in the world have accepted the implementation of this article, and therefore, are continuously striving to protect the rights of Indigenous individuals (3, 4).