Indigenous Youth Voices & the UNDRIP Action Plan

In June 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent and immediately came into force.

The Department of Justice Canada’s call for proposals regarding the UNDRIP Action Plan shortly followed, and our Policy & Research team submitted a successful proposal.

This report summarizes what we heard from 183 Indigenous youth from coast to coast to coast on Canada’s UNDRIP Action Plan in Fall 2022. The details of each engagement are followed by an overview of youth recommendations organized by three elements of the UNDRIP Action Plan:

• Addressing injustices, combatting prejudice, and eliminating all forms of violence, racism, and discrimination against Indigenous peoples (including Elders, youth, children, persons with disabilities, women, men, and gender-diverse and Two-Spirit persons);
• Promoting mutual respect and understanding, as well as good relations, including through human rights education; and
• Monitoring, overseeing, and evaluating the implementation of UNDRIP.

We hope these engagements and this resulting report will help ensure Indigenous youth voices are heard and offer meaningful insight and guidance to the Department of Justice in developing the UNDRIP Action Plan.