Misinformation and Betrayal by Canada Undermining Biodiversity Negotiations

NAGOYA, Japan, Oct. 26 /CNW Telbec/ - The Canadian government is sinking deeper in controversy in Nagoya, Japan, where the Convention on Biodiversity negotiations continue on an international regime on Access and Benefit Sharing from the use of genetic resources.

Last week Canada was severely criticized by Indigenous organizations for being the only country in the world to insist on deleting any reference to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in the preamble of the draft Protocol.

In an interview with APTN National News, Minister of Indian Affairs John Duncan claimed the whole issue was "a complete red herring".  "What is being discussed in Japan is about intellectual property, so to think that has anything really significant to do with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples is inappropriate."

"It is shocking that the Indian Affairs Minister would misinform the public on issues that are critical to Indigenous peoples globally," declared Armand MacKenzie, Executive-Director of the Innu Council of Nitassinan (Innu Nation). "The Protocol addresses genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge. Intellectual property is not the main subject. The UN Declaration is highly significant, since it affirms Indigenous rights on all of these matters."

"Our cultural diversity, as Indigenous peoples, is inseparably linked to biological diversity," stated Ellen Gabriel, President of Quebec Native Women.  "For the Canadian government to marginalize vulnerable Indigenous peoples and undermine our human rights in the draft Protocol is unconscionable."

"It is shameful that the Canadian government continues to exploit the consensus procedure to significantly lower standards relating to the world's Indigenous peoples" emphasized Paul Joffe, lawyer representing the Grand Council of the Crees (Eeyou Istchee). "There is no authority for States' consensus to prevail over the UN Charter and the duty to respect human rights."

In view of consensus being used as a veto, Indigenous peoples face two imminent dangers. States may abandon support for inclusion of the Declaration in the preamble of the Protocol.  Indigenous peoples' inherent right to genetic resources may be deemed to be contingent upon recognition by national legislation in each State.

Indigenous representatives in Nagoya are requesting a meeting with Canada's Environment Minister.  As the former Indian Affairs Minister, Jim Prentice was the chief architect of the government's 4½ year strategy to oppose Indigenous peoples' human rights and the UN Declaration.

For further information:

Aurélie Arnaud, Communication Officer Quebec Native Women's Association, tel. [phone] ext 227, cell: 1-514-239-0088