|
| OPEN LETTER: UBCIC Invitation to UN Special Rapporteur On Indigenous Peoples |
|
February 14, 2013 |
February 14, 2013
Dr. James Anaya
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Indigenous People
c/o OHCHR-UNOG
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais Wilson
1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Via facsimile: +1 (520) 621-9140
Via email: indigenous@ohchr.org
OPEN LETTER: UBCIC INVITATION TO UN SPECIAL RAPPORTEUR ON INDIGENOUS PEOPLE
Dear Dr. Anaya:
We are writing to respectfully extend an invitation to you once more to meet the Union of BC Indian Chiefs (UBCIC) to discuss key issues surrounding recognition of Indigenous Title, Rights and Treaty Rights that members of the UBCIC Chiefs Council face. On December 19th, we sent you a copy of our recent Resolution 2012-54, and extended an initial invitation to you on behalf of the UBCIC Chiefs Council. While we received your response to that letter on January 7, 2013, we were surprised and disappointed to see that you had not formally responded to our invitation.
We understand that you have received other invitations to visit Indigenous Peoples in Canada, and that you have not received the required assistance from the Government of Canada to arrange a visit. It is our understanding that you do not actually require an invitation to visit from the Government of Canada itself, as there is a formal United Nations resolution (sponsored by Canada) setting out a standing invitation to all UN bodies from all UN Member States, but that there are logistical formalities that the Government of Canada must provide including responding with and agreeing to a mutual date convenient to both parties. Furthermore, we understand, your office has written to the Government of Canada on three separate occasions requesting a mutual date for your visit and that the Government of Canada has not responded and has in fact ignored all of your requests. We would appreciate any clarity on this so we can assist.
We respectfully extend this invitation to you based on the sovereignty of our members as Indigenous Nations. Please advise of any assistance we can provide to make arrangements for a visit. If it is not possible for you to enter Canada, we could arrange to meet you in Blaine, Washington. Please contact Don Bain, our Executive Director, to discuss a mutually agreeable meeting date.
On behalf of the UNION OF BC INDIAN CHIEFS
[Original signed]
Grand Chief Stewart Phillip
President
Chief Robert Chamberlin
Vice-President
Chief Marilyn Baptiste
Secretary-Treasurer
CC:
Assembly of First Nations
UBCIC Chiefs Council
First Nations Summit
BC Assembly of First Nations
Tsilhqot’in Nation
|
|
