By Jorge Barrera
APTN National News
OTTAWA–The Harper government says the request by the UN rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples is under consideration.
James Anaya, the UN special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples, also met with Canadian officials in Geneva, including Ottawa’s ambassador to the UN, in July 2012.
“The request of the UN special rapporteur on the rights of Indigenous peoples is under active consideration,” said a spokesperson for Foreign Affairs in an email to APTN National News.
In a February letter to the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC), however, Anaya says Ottawa had continued to ignore his year-old request to visit Canada to investigate the “human rights situation of Indigenous peoples.”
Anaya says he made his first request to the federal government in February 2012. Since then, and despite at least two additional requests, Anaya says he has received no response.
“I have communicated with the government of Canada to request its consent for me to conduct an official visit to the country to examine and report on the human rights situation of Indigenous peoples there,” writes Anaya, according to the Feb. 20 letter to UBCIC.. “I initially made the request in February of 2012 and am still awaiting a response from the government.”
Anaya, however, met with Canadian officials last summer and they discussed a number of issues related to his mandate.
Anaya has said he will find a way to meet with First Nations leaders through unofficial channels if he doesn’t receive an official invitation from Ottawa.
“If I do not receive a positive response from the government in the coming months, I can explore ways of meeting with First Nations leaders from Canada outside the context of an official visit,” writes Anaya.
Anaya’s letter came in response to an invitation from Grand Chief Stewart Phillip, president of the UBCIC.
Anaya’s term ends in May 2014.
@JorgeBarrera
