Must Indigenous Rights Implementation Depend on Political Party? Lessons from Canada
Sheryl Lightfoot looks at policies in the context of the relationship between indigenous and colonial people, institutions and practices.
Canada and New Zealand were two of only four countries which voted against the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples in 2007, before eventually moving to support. Since then, this declaration has influenced Canadian politics and practices, particularly the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 2015 ‘calls to action’, legislation, and subsequent action plans on both the federal and provincial levels. Different political parties’ priorities affect the implementation of indigenous rights policies. Nonetheless, Canada demonstrates the importance of normative change, outside of legislation or formal policy change. Norms of co-development, co-design and co-drafting create opportunities for indigenous peoples to have a say in policies that affect them.
Te Kawa Mataaho Public Service Commission commissioned this article for a special issue of Policy Quarterly on the theme ‘international perspectives on the future of public administration.
Must Indigenous Rights Implementation Depend on Political Party? Lessons from Canada
Authors: Sheryl Lightfoot
Format: Journal article
Date published: 12 February 2024