British Columbia passed a law that will give indigenous people more sway in matters affecting them, becoming the first Canadian province to formally adopt UN standards on the issue.
"It is time we recognize and safeguard indigenous peoples’ human rights, so that we may finally move away from conflict, drawn-out court cases and uncertainty, and move forward with collaboration and respect," Scott Fraser, BC’s Minister of Indigenous Relations, said in a joint statement with indigenous leaders who helped write the legislation – including the BC Assembly of First Nations, the Union of BC Indian Chiefs, and First Nations Summit.