Does systemic racism exist in Quebec, Manitoba and New Brunswick? Don’t ask their premiers.

Over the last nine months Indigenous Watchdog has documented numerous examples of systemic racism against First Nations, Métis and Inuit people across Canada in healthcare delivery, child welfare jurisdiction and justice systems including excessive use of force by the police. Among its conclusions, “In Plain Sight – Addressing Indigenous-specific Racism and Discrimination in B.C. Health

Indigenous Watchdog Status Updates: Nov. 9, 2020 Part 2 – Calls to Action

Part 1 – Current Problems and Issues was posted on Nov. 13, 2020 Is the fact that so much is happening with Indigenous issues an indication that reconciliation is working or does all the activity indicate that reconciliation has gone off the rails? Putting aside for a moment the 53% of updates flagged as “Current

Indigenous Watchdog Status Update: Nov. 9, 2020 Part 1 – Current Problems and Issues

“Part 2 Status Updates – Calls to Actions” will be released on the weekend Indigenous Watchdog was officially launched on Feb. 25, 2020. Since then there have been 4 Status Update reports that have identified and documented 277 specific updates across all “Themes” and “Calls to Action“. Of those, the greatest percentage (52%) have to

Why doesn’t the “Rule of Law” protect the Sipekne’katik First Nation?

We cannot have reconciliation until the extinguishment policy is off the table and our Aboriginal title and treaty rights are recognized, affirmed and implemented by Canada and the provinces. Not only in the Constitution but also on the ground. 1 Arthur Manuel. “Unsettling Canada: A National Wake-up Call.” On the one hand, you have violent

How does systemic racism undermine Indigenous health?

First, let’s start with the following facts: $8,400 vs $18,178. That’s the per capita gap between First Nations and other Canadians in federal, provincial and municipal spending for programs and services1 First Nations fall between 63rd and 78th vs Canada between 6th and 12th on the UN Human Development Index. The federal government’s Community Well-Being

Is the UN Declaration dead or more to the point – has it ever been alive?

“The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples” (UNDRIP) is an international instrument adopted by the United Nations on September 13, 2007, to enshrine the rights that “constitute the minimum standards for the survival, dignity and well-being of the indigenous peoples of the world.” All four countries initially opposed (Canada, United States, Australia

August 17, 2020 Updates to Indigenous Watchdog

What the hell is happening with Reconciliation? Indigenous Watchdog was launched on Feb. 25, 2020 primarily to track progress on the 94 Truth and Reconciliation Calls to Action. In the past six months, that progress was delivered roughly every two months via three updates documenting a total of 153 specific actions as follows: Sections April

Can Indigenous Leadership Help Save the Environment?

Indigenous people currently manage or have tenure on 40% of the world’s protected areas and remaining intact ecosystems. The deep connection to land and water that characterizes Indigenous cultures around the world suggests a natural alliance with conservationists working to protect those places. Mongabay. James Dinneen. Jan. 23, 2020 First Nations, Métis and Inuit people