In honour of the International Day for the Elimination of Racism, the Metro Coalition held a panel discussion on supporting Aboriginal rights with Sakej Henderson (Native Law Centre of Canada), Viola Robinson (Acadia First Nation), and Jaime Battiste (Cape Breton University). Sakej Henderson encouraged all those attending to send postcards to the federal government in support of the implementation of the Kelowna Accord. A private member's bill calling for the Accord's implementation passed the House that night, and is now before the Senate.

The Kelowna Accord is a historically-unique process of collaboration between the government of Canada and Aboriginal leaders. The accord makes provisions to address the disparities in access to infrastructure, standards of living, and human rights between Aboriginal communities and the Canadian average. It sets targets and allocates money for measures such as reducing infant mortality, increasing the high school completion rate, and improving access to clean water.

To learn more about the Kelowna Accord, please read our backgrounder.

Take Action: Please let Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development Jim Prentice know that you support human rights for Aboriginal people in Canada by printing out and mailing this postcard.

Sakej Henderson, a Harvard Law School graduate, has created litigation strategies to restore Aboriginal culture, institutions and rights. During the constitutional process (1978-1993) in Canada, he served as a constitutional advisor for the Míkmaw nation and the Assembly of First Nations. In 2005, he was the recipient of the National Aboriginal Achievement Award for Law and Justice. He is a noted international human rights lawyer and an international authority on protecting Indigneous heritage, knowledge, and culture. Currently, Sakej Henderson is Research Director, Native Law Centre, University of Saskatchewan.

Viola Robinson was born in Nova Scotia and has lived most of her life here, raising six children with her husband. In 1975, she was elected President of the Native Council of Nova Scotia, where she served continuously until being elected President of the Native Council of Canada in 1990. Shortly thereafter, she was appointed to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples. After completing her term as Commissioner in 1995, she entered Dalhousie Law School and graduated in 1998. She is currently employed with her Band full time as a consultant and advisor on many issues, as well as being the Mi'kmaq Co/Chair of the Tri-partite Justice sub-committee of N.S.

Jaime Battiste, from Eskasoni First Nation, is a graduate of Dalhousie Law School. The Assembly of First Nations chose Jaime to represent Canadian First Nations Youth at the First Ministers Conference on Aboriginal Affairs in Kelowna, where he was one of 15 Aboriginal representatives included in focused discussions with the Prime Minister, Cabinet Members, Premiers, Chiefs and Elders from across Canada. Battiste was also the Aboriginal First Nations Youth Role Model for 2004-2005. Currently, he is a Lecturer in Mi’kmaq Studies at Cape Breton University.