The Indigenous Rights Declaration: From Policy to Practice — with Khelsilem

Join us for an insightful lecture by Indigenous political leader Khelsilem at Simon Fraser University, hosted by SFU's Vancity Office of Community Engagement. Khelsilem will delve into the journey of implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) over the past six years. UNDRIP, hailed as the framework for reconciliation, sets out the minimum standards for the dignity of Indigenous Peoples. Despite its adoption by 143 UN member states a decade ago, progress in realizing Indigenous Rights has been sluggish, bewildering, and hampered by a lack of comprehensive understanding among policy makers.

Khelsilem, a frontline leader in this endeavor, was present at the adoption of the Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (DRIPA) by the Province of British Columbia, and then spearheaded the development of the Squamish Nation’s formal response to BC’s DRIPA Action Plan, and in 2022 co-chaired the City of Vancouver’s Task Force on Implementing UNDRIP, leading to Vancouver's historic status as the first city in the world to adopt a strategy for UNDRIP implementation. This lecture promises profound insights into the ongoing struggle for the ultimate goal of UNDRIP: the full enjoyment of Indigenous Rights by Indigenous Peoples. 

This talk was followed by a Q&A discussion moderated by Am Johal.