An Introduction to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

Learning Objectives

Attendees will leave with an understanding of the forces and efforts that led to the passing of the Declaration, an appreciation for the language of the Declaration and why the Declaration is controversial, and an understanding of BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Persons Act and the federal government’s proposed legislation to implement UNDRIP and how these might impact engineers and geoscientists in BC.

The webinar will cover:

• The history leading up to the Declaration, including Canada’s position as one of four countries who voted against it and Canada’s change in position since that time.
• Why, despite the Declaration’s laudable goals, the Declaration is controversial and why some people, including some Indigenous people, have concerns with some of its provisions and making it law.
• The efforts to bring the Declaration into law in Canada, including BC’s Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Persons Act, one of the first efforts in the world to bring the Declaration into law, and the federal government’s Bill C-15.
• A review of some areas where BC’s legislation and UNDRIP may impact engineers and geoscientists in BC.

Speaker

Sandy Carpenter

Co-Founder, Canadian Regulatory and Indigenous Law

Sandy Carpenter is Co-Founder of Canadian Regulatory and Indigenous Law and is widely recognized as one of Canada's leading regulatory and Indigenous law lawyers. Sandy has practiced administrative, environmental, and Indigenous law for over 30 years across a wide range of industries and jurisdictions. He is a past President and member of the Board of the Canadian Energy Law Foundation and has taught Environmental Law and been a guest lecturer at the University of Calgary. Sandy obtained his LLB from UBC in 1985 and was called to the bar in BC in 1986. He was called to the bar in Alberta in 1997.