Jody Wilson-Raybould critical of UNDRIP legislation at Assembly of First Nations annual meeting
Two justice ministers — one current, one former — with opposing views dominated Thursday’s final day of the Assembly of First Nations’ (AFN) annual general meeting in Halifax.
Former Attorney General Jody Wilson-Raybould didn’t mince words when he addressed the assembly on the federal government’s action plan to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP).
“Nothing has changed yet,” said Wilson-Raybould.
“There is a lot of lofty rhetoric. But the passing of this legislation has not resulted in the return of a piece of land, the fulfillment of treaty promises, the release of a family from poverty, the abandonment of a nation under Indian law, or the purging of running drinking water in a house on reserve.”
UNDRIP documents the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of indigenous peoples. Canada released its action plan on June 21, two years after the legislation implementing UNDRIP was royally approved.
Wilson-Raybould said the legislation falls short of the promise of the UN statement and that the action plan contains elements of performative reconciliation.
“More often than not, they choose what is easy and primarily symbolic, rather than what is difficult and essential for transformation,” she said.
“Too often, political leaders are focused on being seen as an act of appeasement rather than actually doing it.”
Wilson-Raybould served as Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada from 2015 until she resigned from cabinet in 2019. She also served as the AFN regional chief for British Columbia from 2009 to 2015.
Action plan ‘will continue to evolve:’ Lametti
Many delegates who attended the convention took pictures of her speaking on the podium and making her way through the Assembly Hall. Several people, both at the meeting and on social media, have speculated that she will run for national head in December, following the removal of RoseAnne Archibald last month.
However, Wilson-Raybould told CBC News that a national headline bid “isn’t on her radar.”
Current Justice Minister David Lametti also addressed the meeting, reiterating similar speaking points made to the Chiefs and Plenipotentiaries at meetings held in December and April on Canada’s action plan to implement the UN statement.
“It’s not a perfect document and it’s not finished in any way,” Lametti told the assembly on Thursday.
“Rather, it is a living roadmap… It will continue to evolve in consultation, collaboration and co-development with indigenous peoples.“
On Thursday, BC regional chief Terry Teegee said that now that the action plan has been released, the hard work begins.
“To change colonial laws, the machinery, the culture, the thousands of officials within the federal government, within parliament, must know and understand exactly what the statement means,” Teegee said.
The three-day meeting ends today.
