United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal Peoples: THE AFNQL
CELEBRATES ITS 3RD ANNIVERSARY AND URGES THE CANADIAN GOVERNMENT TO ENDORSE
IT WITHOUT CONDITION

MONTREAL, Sept. 13 /CNW Telbec/ - Today, September 13, 2010, the Aboriginal peoples of the entire world will be celebrating the third anniversary of the adoption of the United Nations' Declaration on the Rights of Aboriginal Peoples. "The Declaration is an essential tool for the recognition of our peoples and our rights. We demand that the Federal Government respect its commitments and endorse without condition this important international instrument, stated Ghislain Picard, Chief of the Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador (AFNQL).

This Declaration establishes the framework for the protection of the fundamental rights of Aboriginal Peoples with regards to their survival, their dignity, their well-being and the full range of their collective and individual rights: these include their cultural rights and their rights to their identity, education, health, employment and language. Canada and the United States are among the only countries that have not yet recognized the Declaration. "We have been repeating the same message for three years. It is a shame that Canada has lost its international reputation as a major defender of human rights by its failure to respect the rights of the First Peoples within its own territories!" declared Ghislain Picard.

In the Speech from the Throne, given in March 2010, the Government of Canada promised to take measures to endorse the Declaration. "We are still waiting to see this commitment become reality" pointed out Mr. Picard.

In order to celebrate this third anniversary, the Coalition for the Rights of Aboriginal Peoples in Quebec will be meeting at Complex Guy-Favreau, in Montreal at 11 a.m. The celebration is the result of an initiative undertaken by the Coalition and the AFNQL to launch a petition for the Government of Canada to support the Declaration. The petition has already garnished more than15,000 signatures to date and is available on line at www.apnql-afnql.com.

About the AFNQL
The Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador is the regional organization representing 43 Chiefs of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador.

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