Session 2: Exploring Bill C15

The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP) is a template for the rights of Indigenous people globally. Bill C-15 is the Liberal government’s attempt at beginning to enshrine these rights into Canadian law. The Bill has supporters and critics. Drs. Brenda Gunn and Alex Neve will introduce the Bill and explore some of its benefits and challenges. Dr. Gunn is an Indigenous law professor at the University of Winnipeg, and Dr. Neve is a Senior Fellow and Adjunct Professor in international human rights law at the University of Ottawa and Dalhousie University. Dr. Neve served as Secretary General of Amnesty International Canada’s English Branch from 2000

to 2020.

At the beginning of the session, Dr. Gunn shared this Introductory Handbook on UNDRIP. This handbook provides: 

• A basic understanding of the history of the UN Declaration and how it applies in Canada
• An introduction to some of the broad themes of rights recognized and protected in the UN Declaration
• A basic description and analysis of what these rights can mean for Aboriginal people
• Examples from Indigenous communities and legal systems around the world where various provisions of the UN Declaration have been implemented
• A list of resources to learn more in-depth information about the UN Declaration