Freda Huson arrest Unist'ot'en camp

Indigenous Rights

Indigenous Peoples in Canada are made up of First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities. There are more than 1.6 million Indigenous Peoples in Canada, representing 4.9 per cent of the population, according to 2016 census figures.

Through treaties and the Canadian Constitution Act, Canada has made significant promises to Indigenous Peoples in exchange for access to Indigenous land. The vast majority of natural resource decisions and development in Canada has been made in violation of these promises and, as a result, the government of Canada has promised to renew nation-to-nation relations with Indigenous Peoples.

By any measure the federal government and its provincial counterparts have much work to do. Critics have pointed out approvals of projects like the Site C dam and the Trans Mountain pipeline challenge Canada’s commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP), which guarantees the right to “free, prior and informed consent.”

For weekly updates on our reporting, sign up for The Narwhal’s newsletter.

Latest News about "Indigenous Rights"

‘Treated like machines’: wildfire fighters describe a mental health crisis on the frontlines

Note: This story discusses mental health and suicide. If you or someone you know needs help, there’s 24/7 phone support available with Talk Suicide Canada: 1-833-456-4566, or text...

Continue reading
Our members make The Narwhal’s ad-free, independent journalism possible. Will you join the pod?
Help power our ad-free, independent journalism
Investigative reporting like The Narwhal’s is now blocked on Facebook — and soon Google will do the same. One way to make sure you still get the facts? Sign up for our free newsletter.
Printed text saying: "Good news is hard to find," with each word disappearing one by one
Investigative reporting like The Narwhal’s is now blocked on Facebook — and soon Google will do the same. One way to make sure you still get the facts? Sign up for our free newsletter.