The Northwest Territories government has introduced a bill to guide implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, which it says will advance reconciliation in the territory.

The proposed legislation, which was co-developed by the territorial government with Indigenous governments and organizations over three years, aims to ensure all future and existing laws, regulations and policies in the N.W.T. are consistent with Indigenous rights.

SA国际影视传媒淚 was proud to introduce this bill,SA国际影视传媒� Premier Caroline Cochrane told reporters Wednesday. SA国际影视传媒�(ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a) truly significant step towards reconciliation.SA国际影视传媒�

The NWT Council of Leaders, which includes officials from the territorial and Indigenous governments, has also reached a memorandum of understanding to implement the declaration.

SA国际影视传媒淭his is a very important day for Indigenous communities and Indigenous governments,SA国际影视传媒� said Danny Gaudet, chief of the Deline GotSA国际影视传媒檌ne government. SA国际影视传媒淲eSA国际影视传媒檙e finally starting to recognize the Indigenous First Nations people, the Metis, the Inuit in their rightful place as leaders of their own destiny.SA国际影视传媒�

Gaudet said he wants to see changes to the territorySA国际影视传媒檚 education system to build capacity and promote Indigenous ideologies, language, tradition and culture.

SA国际影视传媒淚f you can change a generation itSA国际影视传媒檚 got to be through the education system,SA国际影视传媒� he said at a press conference. SA国际影视传媒淚f we spend $1 on modern education, we should be spending $5 on traditional stuff to bring that back.SA国际影视传媒�

Paul Harrington, vice president of the Northwest Territory Metis Nation, said he wants Metis to be recognized as First Nations people and hopes implementation of the declaration will advance their land claims.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think itSA国际影视传媒檒l be good for our people and be good for our communities, good for the Northwest Territories,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Joseph Kochon, senior administrative officer for Behdzi Ahda First Nation, said the bill is a SA国际影视传媒渂lueprintSA国际影视传媒� of how the territory will work with Indigenous governments.

He said many northern communities are not given equal opportunities and wants traditional knowledge to be given the same standing as western science.

SA国际影视传媒淭hereSA国际影视传媒檚 a lot of work that has to be done,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淚tSA国际影视传媒檚 a beginning and maybe this will help us in the smaller communities to stop repeating ourselves over and over.SA国际影视传媒�

The declaration was adopted by the UN General Assembly in September 2007. It recognizes the rights of Indigenous peoples around the world including self-determination, freedom from discrimination, and free, prior and informed consent.

While Canada was among member states that initially voted against the declaration over concerns it was inconsistent with Canadian constitutional law, it officially removed its objector status in 2016. A federal act on implementing the declaration in Canada came into force in 2021.

The Dene Nation voted to reject the federal legislation at a special assembly.

They raised concerns that Article 46, which upholds the territorial integrity and political unity of the state, could give Canada overriding authority in Dene territory. A report by an NWT legislative committee on the declaration notes the clause has been perceived by some Indigenous people as a back door for countries to push back against the declaration.

On Wednesday, Premier Cochrane said a majority of Indigenous leaders SA国际影视传媒� but not all SA国际影视传媒� had agreed to the memorandum.

SA国际影视传媒淚 really congratulate all the people that worked on this to actually find areas that were common that we agreed with,SA国际影视传媒� she said.

-By Emily Blake, The Canadian Press. This story was produced with the financial assistance of the Meta and Canadian Press News Fellowship.