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enjoy their human rights. So does the elimination of discrimination and racism of which they are
still frequently the victims. In some cases, taking advantage of development possibilities,
Aboriginal people have established thriving business enterprises. Much more needs to be done
to provide such opportunities to all Aboriginal communities in the country in order to raise
employment and income levels.
The Special Rapporteur concludes his report by a number of recommendations intended
to help the concerned parties bridge the existing gaps and consolidate the achievements obtained
by Aboriginal peoples so far. The Special Rapporteur recommends, inter alia, that new
legislation on Aboriginal rights be enacted by the Parliament of Canada, as well as provincial
legislatures, in line with the proposals made by the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples;
that Convention No. 169 of the International Labour Organization concerning Indigenous and
Tribal Peoples in Independent Countries be ratified promptly, in consultation with Aboriginal
peoples; that it be clearly established in the text and spirit of any agreement between an
Aboriginal people and a government in Canada that no matter what is negotiated, the inherent
constitutional rights of Aboriginal peoples are inalienable and cannot be relinquished, ceded or
released; that an evaluation of the new self-government agreements be undertaken; that the
Government intensify its measures to close the human development gaps between Aboriginal
and non-Aboriginal Canadians in the fields of health care, housing, education, welfare and social
services; that emergency measures be taken to address the critical issue of high rates of diabetes,
tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS among Aboriginal people; that Aboriginal suicide be addressed as a
priority social issue; that the Government address with high priority the elimination from
existing legislation of provisions that place certain categories of First Nation women at a
disadvantage; that section 67 of the Human Rights Act be stricken; that the Canadian Human
Rights Commission be mandated to deal with the human rights of First Nations; and that efforts
be increased at all levels to reduce and eliminate the overrepresentation of Aboriginal men,
women and children in detention.