Human Rights

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights is an article published by the United Nations in 1948. It outlines the basic rights and freedoms of every human regardless of citizenship and Identity.

We need to protect these rights and acknowledge when they have been violated because they protect our fundamental freedom globally. If we fail to acknowledge what articles have been broken, we make way for future violations that could be worse.

In the Indigenous cultural genocide. Articles 5, 12, 18 and 19 have been violated to some extent.

Human Rights Violations of the Indigenous in Canada

Article 5

• No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

The treatment of the Indigenous children in residential schools violated this act as they were subject to torture and inhumane treatment.

• In the Mohawk Institute residential school between 1940 and 1945, girls received “shock treatments” in which they were shocked by a battery for bedwetting even if they did not have the habit. They repeatedly shocked the girls three times.

• At the Alberni Residential School between 1893 and 1973, children were often beat by teachers. A staff member was also fired for attempting to rescue a young child from a severe beating.

• Local dentists were given free Novocain for the Indigenous children but they refused to prescribe it. Everyone in the school condoned this and allowed the Indigenous children to have painful procedures without painkillers despite the availability of it.

Article 12

• No one shall be subjected to arbitrary interference with his privacy, family, home or correspondence, nor to attacks upon his honor and reputation. Everyone has the right to the protection of the law against such interference or attacks.

The First Nations were subject to arbitrary interference through government forced integration.

• In 1953, 87 Inuit were forced to move from northern Quebec to Ellesmere and Cornwallis Islands to secure territory during the Cold War which was a breach of home.

• In 1956, the Sayisi Dene were forcibly relocated from an area near Little Duck Lake, into the outskirts of Churchill which was a breach of home.

• In the 1960’s during the Sixties Scoop, children were forcibly removed from their families and placed in adoption centers which was a breach of home and privacy.

Article 18

• Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.

The Indigenous people have been subject to forced cultural and religious assimilation throughout history. This violated their right to conscience and religion as it restricted certain practices and forced culture and religion upon them.

• In 1615, European missionaries arrived to convert Indigenous populations to Catholicism.

• In 1831, when the first residential school was established, it restricted the students’ rights to their culture. It banned Indigenous languages, cuisine, culture, and the connection to their parents.

• In the 1960’s children taken during the Sixties Scoop were placed in westernized households and many were unable to speak Indigenous languages, cook Indigenous cuisine, and experience Indigenous culture. This forced them to lose their identity and heritage.

Article 19

• Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media and regardless of frontiers.

The Indigenous population was restricted from performing certain practices and expressing their heritage.

• Between 1846 - 1951, the Indian Act banned certain practices and festivals from being performed by the Indigenous communities. It also prevented women from being a part of band elections.

• Students in residential schools were punished for expressing their heritage or emotions. When students expressed missing their parents or attempted to leave the school, they were often beaten with whips, in addition they received hours of isolation in dark rooms. This form of discipline ultimately coerced students to adhere to Euro-Canadian norms out of fear, not choice.

Article 21

• 1. Everyone has the right to take part in the government of his country, directly or through freely chosen representatives.

• 2. Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

• 3. The will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government; this will shall be expressed in periodic and genuine elections which shall be by universal and equal suffrage and shall be held by secret vote or by equivalent free voting procedures.

1. At one point in time, Indigenous people were never granted the right to vote federally. Only certain people could vote if they met a certain criteria. This was unfair as it excluded an entire demographic of people from the Canadian elections.

• Prior to 1876, Indigenous people could only vote if they removed themselves of the Indian Status.

• After 1876, the termination of the Indian Status meant that Indigenous people could vote federally. However, due to the enfranchisement criteria for voting, many did not qualify.

• In 1885 the federal vote was given to all Indigenous people except for Manitoba, British Columbia, Keewatin, and the North-West Territories, as long as they owned land which was worth more than one hundred and fifty dollars. However, in 1889, the liberal government reverted back to the same standards in 1876 as they feared the Indigenous people would vote for the conservatives.

2. Indigenous people do not have equal access to public services such as healthcare. In addition as of 2021, there are currently 58 reserves under long-term boil water advisories.

3 The Indigenous vote was suppressed to keep a party in power in 1889. This skewed the election results and consequently violated the basis of our democracy.