MLA Rice joins the discussion on UNDRIP declaration plans

North Coast MLA Jennifer Rice made a strong call Thursday for
adoption of UNDRIP as part of pending legislation at the BC legislature

One week ago, the NDP government introduced its plans to make the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People as part of government policy.

A opportunity that Premier Horgan at the time noted offered a historical moment for the province, with the pending legislation one that will bring BC laws in line with the United Nations Declaration.

With the legislation now up for discussion, MLA's have been taking their allotted time to speak to the path towards adopting the legislation, with Jennifer Rice the MLA for the North Coast providing for a five minute address in the Legislature on Thursday morning.

As part of her opening remarks, Ms. Rice made note of the eleven distinct nations that she represents as the MLA for the North Coast, highlighting how the move to put in place the United Nations Declaration of the Rights for Indigenous people will make British Columbia the first province to do so.

She also framed some of her points by recounting how Colonial governments, including the one that she is a part of, have time and time again ignored the rights of Indigenous peoples, something the adoption of the Declaration will serve to address.

She also observed how in Prince Rupert there has been much in the way of adopting the principles of UNDRIP if intended or not; pointing to the work of the Port of Prince Rupert and their engagement with First Nations of the region as part of the Port's moves towards the future.

"In Prince Rupert we have successful Indigenous businesses that are thriving and numerous Indigenous people that are employed with good paying jobs, family supporting jobs and in part that is due to the work, the progressive, forward thinking work that the Port of Prince Rupert has already conducted in how they relate with Indigenous Peoples that their port operations operate on their territories"

Ms. Rice also challenged some of the perceptions of those who may be against adoption of the UNDRIP principles and how it will serve to uphold the rights that already exist.

As well, she observed how the adoption will redress much of the past when Indigenous people have been ignored, mistreated and abused.

"Why should one group of people be singled out for what really amounts to Special Treatment, and I just wanted to point out the irony of that, in that, we're all supposed to be treated equally but for years, for 160 years white people and non-Indigenous people have been singled out and treated differently. They've been treated special, as the superior race and so what we we want to do is uphold the rights of Indigenous people that already are there, and already exist"

To close her five minutes of speaking time, Ms. Rice reviewed some of the areas where the new focus for the government and adoption of UNDRIP will impact on Indigenous lives.

With the MLA making note of such areas such as education, justice, water infrastructure for Indigenous people and issues of child poverty to name a few.

You can review her full presentation to the Legislature below, the transcript of her comments for the Legilsature can be reviewed here at the 11:40 mark




The debate and discussion on the government's plans for UNDRIP will continue into the next week of Legislature work.

For more items of interest related to the work of MLA Rice in the Legislature see our archive page here.

Cross posted from the North Coast Review.