IRSJ research group is a Wilfrid Laurier University research group
Category Archives: CIGI BLOGS
CIGI BLOG #11: “Cultural Genocide of Canada’s Aboriginal People”
Author: Rhoda Howard-Hassmann Published: July 13, 2015 “Recently two events occurred that once again spurred discussion in Canada about its relations to its Aboriginal population. On May 28, 2015, Chief Justice Beverley McLachlin of Canada’s Supreme Court delivered a speech in … Continue reading
CIGI BLOG #10: “Global Governance is a Two Way Street: James Anaya’s Visit to Canada”
Author: Ken Coates Published: Oct. 7, 2013 “Internationalization and global governance occupy two-way streets, even for a wealthy country like Canada. For generations, Canadians have viewed the UN and other global governance institutions as operating in a single direction: taking resources from … Continue reading
CIGI BLOG #9: “From Aspiration to Inspiration: UNDRIP Finding Deep Traction in Indigenous Communities”
Author: Ken Coates Published: Sept. 18, 2013 “Public discussion of UNDRIP has been surprisingly limited, both in Canada and on the international scene. The dramatic two-stage passage of the agreement – the initial positive vote by the UN General Assembly and the … Continue reading
CIGI BLOG #8: “UNDRIP Changes Indigenous Peoples Articulation of Both Problems and Solutions”
Authors: Ken Coates and Terry Mitchell Published: Aug. 27, 2013 “The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was defined at the time of its passage as an “aspirational document.” Those governments that resisted the declaration — Canada, United States, … Continue reading
CIGI BLOG #7: “UNDRIP: Shifting From Global Aspiration to Local Realization”
Authors: Ken Coates and Terry Mitchell Published: Aug. 22, 2013 “The core lesson in the creation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) was simple: collective action by Indigenous peoples could force major changes in international law … Continue reading
CIGI BLOG #6: “Forcing New Directions in Government Policy”
Authors: Ken Coates and Terry Mitchell Published: Jan. 24, 2013 “For the past two months, Canadians have experienced unprecedented attention to Aboriginal affairs. The combination of three elements – the long and controversial fast of Chief Theresa Spence in Ottawa, dozens … Continue reading
CIGI BLOG #5: “Considering the Triple Bottom Line of Good Governance”
Authors: Terry Mitchell and Ken Coates Published: Dec. 3, 2012 “Governments around the world are gradually recognizing and acknowledging that historical and existing models of government relations with Indigenous peoples have not worked and that new approaches are urgently needed. Good governance, … Continue reading
CIGI BLOG #4: “The Achievement of Indigenous Internationalism”
Authors: Ken Coates and Terry Mitchell Published: Nov. 20, 2012 “Canada’s decision in 2010 to sign the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples represented much more than a change of federal government policies. The belated action, coming three years after … Continue reading
CIGI BLOG #3: “The Interplay of the National and International in Indigenous Affairs”
Author: Ken Coates Published: Nov. 5, 2012 “A decade ago, a group of First Nations leaders from Canada traveled to Siberia to meet with Indigenous groups in the former Soviet Union. Squalid living conditions, limited health and education facilities and widespread poverty, … Continue reading
CIGI BLOG #2: “The Promise of Indigenous Youth”
Authors: Terry Mitchell and Ken Coates Published: Oct. 22, 2012 “Canadian social policies directed towards Aboriginal (First Nation, Metis and Inuit) populations have largely been developed outside of a historical, cultural framework, providing a long standing demonstration of the role of policy … Continue reading
Indigenous Rights and Social Justice Research Group 