The Office of the Newfoundland Regional Chief for the Assembly of First Nations is holding a series of community engagement sessions on the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and United Nations Declarations Act (UNDA), across the territory of Qalipu First Nation and Miawpukek First Nation.

Engagement Sessions Currently Scheduled:

• Campbell’s Creek Community Centre, Campbell’s Creek, Sunday, January 12 at 3 PM
• Parish Hall, St. George’s, Sunday, January 19 at 2 PM

*Future dates to be announced

A little history on UNDRIP: Canada adopted UNDRIP in 2016. UNDA and its associated Bill C-15 was passed on June 21,2021 calling for National implementation. In December 2023, the Assembly of First Nations (AFN) established a Chiefs Committee on UNDA to begin working with the Federal Government to create a workplan and many regions have begun having discussions with their Provincial Governments to adopt UNDRIP. A major component of this project is to hold community engagement sessions to educate community members on UNDRIP and UNDA.

Article 38 notes “Consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples, shall take the appropriate measures, including legislative measures, to achieve the ends of this Declaration”