Reply #2: Canada votes against indigenous rights

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UNITED NATIONS - Canada was among just four countries that voted against an indigenous rights declaration at the United Nations Thursday, triggering accusations from Canadian native leaders that the country had just embarrassed itself on the world stage.

"It's a huge disappointment," said First Nations Chief Phil Fontaine, in New York for the vote.

"Canada has had an outstanding reputation internationally for the protection of human rights...but when it comes to the human rights of indigenous peoples, then our human rights are not as important."

Indian Affairs Minister Chuck Strahl said in an interview from Ottawa that the proposed UN Universal Declaration of Indigenous Peoples' Rights is flawed because it doesn't reflect Canada's traditional "balancing" of rights of all people in the country - native and non-native.

http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=eb345ff8-d73e-4b4d-98b7-81d483b03233&k=45476