Amnesty Criticizes Canadian Policies Regarding Indigenous Peoples

The following is excerpted from Canada.com:

Amnesty Criticizes Range of Canadian Policies

Peter O'Neil, Europe Correspondent , Canwest News Service
Published: Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Amnesty also charged there is discrimination against aboriginals and poor treatment of refugees and asylum seekers, and objected to federal anti-terrorism legislation.

"In Canada there was widespread concern about a government decision in October to reverse a long-established policy of seeking clemency for all Canadian citizens sentenced to death abroad," the Amnesty said. "Under the new policy, clemency will no longer be sought from 'democratic countries that adhere to the rule of law.'"

The report also cited Canadian government statistics showing that aboriginal women are five times more likely than other women to die a violent death. This highlights "the desperate need for a comprehensive national action plan to address the violence and protect indigenous women from discrimination."

The report also charged that:

Canadian governments have failed to ensure disputes with aboriginal groups over land and resource rights are being resolved quickly and fairly, even though the report into the 1995 police killing of Dudley George provided a "blueprint" for measures to protect native rights.

"This was exemplified by the situation at Grassy Narrows in northwestern Ontario, and the plight of the Lubicon Cree in northern Alberta," the report said.

Canada is not ensuring equal funding for aboriginal child protection agencies and voted against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.

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For the complete article discussing other areas in which Amnesty criticized Canadian Policy, go to: http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=5f6a0576-36e7-40fa-a770-975c20619b3a