Sharing Canada’s experience on the UNDRIP Implementation Act and global governance

Canada was one four countries which voted against adoption of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) by the United Nations General Assembly on 13 September 2007.

However, Indigenous Peoples' leadership and diplomacy successfully changed Canada's position. In 2019, the Canadian province of British Columbia passed legislation to incorporate UNDRIP into its domestic law.

Indigenous diplomacy is not limited to global governance and state mechanisms. It is also important for academic institutions such as UBC, where Sheryl has championed incorporation of UNDRIP into its strategic plan.

This seminar aims to share these experiences and the lessons learned, contributing to the context of Australia, Asia Pacific countries and global governance for Indigenous Peoples.

About the speaker

Sheryl Lightfoot is a Professor in Political Science of the University of British Columbia (UBC) and Canada Research Chair in Global Indigenous Rights and Politics. She was a Senior Advisor to the President on Indigenous Affairs and led implementation of the 2020 Indigenous Strategic Plan across UBC.

As one of the world's experts in global Indigenous politics, Sheryl specializes in complex questions of Indigenous Peoples' rights and how they are claimed and negotiated. In 2021 she became the first Indigenous Canadian woman appointed to the United Nations Expert Mechanism on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (EMRIP) and this year became EMRIP Chair.

COVID protocols

The ANU strongly encourages you to keep a mask with you at all times (for use when COVID-19 safe behaviours are not practicable) and to be respectful of colleagues, students and visitors who may wish to continue to wear one. Please continue to practice good hygiene. If you are unwell, please stay home. The ANU's COVID Safety advice can be accessed here.

No registration is required for in-person attendance for this event as ANU and ACT Health no longer require registration for the purposes of contact tracing.

This seminar presentation will be a hybrid presentation. It will not be recorded.

Note: unfortunately, a larger capacity venue was unable to be secured for this presentation. It is thus being delivered in hybrid format so it can be accessed online if the venue reaches maximum capacity.

If you require accessibility accommodations or a visitor Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan please email regnet.communications@anu.edu.au.

Image credit: Former UBC President Prof. Santa J. Ono, Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, Senior Advisor to the President on Indigenous Affairs, and Assembly of First Nations National Chief Perry Bellegarde | UBC (2020).