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March 7, 2010
International Women's Day
On MARCH 7, Come along and Walk with us !
National Launch of the
World March of Women
In 2010, Let's March !
Meeting at 1.00 pm
SQUARE PHILLIPS
métro McGill, (angle rues Ste-Catherine et Union), Montréal
The Quebec WMW asks for the adoption of the UN Declaration for the rights of Indigenous Peoples !
For more info on the 2010 Wolrd March of Women >>>
Quebec Coordination for the World March of Women :
March 4, 2010
QNW Reaction to the Speech from the Throne :
Speech from the Throne Disquieting due to its vagueness
QNW would like to comment on the Governor General’s speech from the Throne in hopes that clarification may be made regarding important issues impacting Indigenous women and our communities. (...)
While the Speech from the Throne was peppered with the appearance of good will, holistically speaking, there remains much to be desired in the content and details of the Speech from the Throne.
March 3, 2010
Inequitable child welfare funding leads to more First Nations children in child welfare care today than at the height of residential schools.
While federal government uses legal loopholes to keep flawed policies for First Nations children in place, documents obtained under access to information say that inequitable child welfare funding contributes to the fact that there are more First Nations children in child welfare care today than at the height of residential schools. It goes on saying that the federal government’s child welfare funding service on reserves results in a “dire” situation.
Canada is currently before the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal because of its inequitable treatment of First Nations children. However, in December of 2009, the federal government filed a motion to have the case dismissed, claiming that the Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination in government services, does not apply to the funding decisions that determine the level and quality of services to First Nations communities. Cross examinations on affidavits filed by Canada in support of the motion and by First Nations and others in opposition to the motion have been held last week and will continue this week in Ottawa.
February 8, 2010
QNW is troubled with the decision taken by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) to evict non-Native residents from the community of Kahnawà:ke
QNW is troubled with the decision taken by the Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke (MCK) to evict non-Native residents from the community of Kahnawà:ke, a decision which ruptures the family unit and the community as a whole. It is imperative that clarification be made regarding Mohawk customs as a huge misconception has been conveyed by the MCK that misrepresents all Mohawk people to the public.
According to Mohawk customs, women are the titleholders of the land, a tradition that was undermined by the Indian Act which was originally created to define who was an “Indian” and to keep “white men” from living on “land reserved for Indians”. In fact, adoption of non-Mohawks in Mohawk communities was and still is a common practice and includes ceremonies to welcome new residents, reinforced by an adoption belt thereby securing the individuals rights to live on the territory. But adoption also comes with responsibilities which include learning the language, honouring and upholding the laws and traditions of the Mohawk people and obligations to the adopted clans.
However, since the creation of the Indian Act every effort has been made to oppress the customs and rights of all Indigenous peoples. Even now, all membership codes must still be approved by the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs. The 4 types of membership codes identified by Stewart Clatworthy and Anthony H. Smith in 1992 are in one way or another based on blood quantum either explicitly or by being tied to Indian Act status rules and do not follow any Indigenous peoples laws or customs. Consequently, it is important to clarify that the eviction notices do not follow Mohawk customs or tradition.
To read the open letter (pdf) >>>
November 13, 2009
Quebec Native Women's Memoir on the McIvor Case
After the Supreme Court of Canada denied the appeal on the McIvor Case on November 6, QNW sent a position paper as part of the engagement process established by Indian and Northern Affairs Canada. QNW reminds the government that several concerns are to be taken into account to modify the law before April 6, 2010.
To read our position paper (pdf)
November 9, 2009
Canada hinders negotiations in the UN Convention on Biodiversity in its continued Opposition to the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
In a time of great concern for environmental and human rights issues,
Canada
is playing an obstructionist role by refusing to recognize the validity
of the UNDRIP within discussions at the UN Conference on the Convention
on Biological Diversity (CBD). Despite Canada’s ratification
of the Convention in 1992, and as such obligations to respect and
promote its principles, this country has been constantly opposing
every mention of the UNDRIP in discussions, as the minimum standard
that protects and promotes the rights of Indigenous peoples, while
the majority of the States have endorsed it.
To read our Press Release (pdf)
Article 8(j) of the CDB says that :
" Each contracting Party shall, as far as possible and as appropriate: Subject to national legislation, respect, preserve and maintain knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities embodying traditional lifestyles relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity and promote their wider application with the approval and involvement of the holders of such knowledge, innovations and practices and encourage the equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of such knowledge innovations and practices. "
To read the expert report from the Hyderabad (India) Meeting >>>
October, 26 2009
QNW is concerned by the lack of consultation of Aboriginal peoples from the government on the McIvor case.
Quebec Native Women (QNW) would like to express its profound concerns regarding the way in which the legislative process is being conducted by the Canadian Government to amend the Indian status provisions in section 6 of the Indian Act. A collaborative process is necessary, in order to comply with the 2009 British Colombia Court of Appeal decision in the Sharon McIvor case.
To read our letter to Chuck Strahl (pdf) >>>
September 13, 2009
Second Anniversary of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples
Watch our video on Youtube to celebrate this important anniversary.
Paul Joffe (international lawyer who has been very active in the negotiations process of the UN Declaration), Beatrice Vaugrante (Director of Amnesty International francophone section) and Ellen Gabriel present the importance of the UN Declaration for Indigenous peoples in Canada and throughout the world.
Canada still refuses to sign the Declaration. You can print the Amnesty and AFNQL Petition and send it to the Canadian Parliament.
To download the petition (pdf) >>>
To watch the Video on Youtube >>>
September 11, 2009
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Sharon McIvor v. Canada: Send your comments to the government ! Following the judgement of the Court of Appeal of British Colombia of April, 6th 2009, the government has one year to amend Bill C-31. Therefore, they must consult the communities and national organizations and ask all who wish to send their comments to do so. Quebec Native Women is presently working on a report to present its concerns related to the way the government is planning to amend the Bill. You can however respond today by writing to the government: To send your comments to the government... |
July, 15 2009
QNW Has Serious Concerns About the New Canadian Policy on Access and Benefit Sharing as It Does Not Take Into Account Indigenous Traditional Knowledge.
May 18, 2009
QNW continues to put pressure on the adoption of the UN Declaration on the Rights on Indigenous Peoples.
Quebec Native Women is part of a coalition of organizations that are asking the government of Quebec to adopt the UN Declaration on the rights of indigenous peoples. Organizations that are part of the initiative are: AFNQL, Amnistie Internationale francophone section, la Ligue des droits et libertés, CSN.
