Ed John takes up international responsibility

Even though Grand Chief Edward John had the support of prominent First Nations organizations as he bid for the job of representing Canada’s Indigenous peoples on the international stage, he was ultimately selected to the post for his expertise.

The United Nations Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues announced on April 28 that John, along with 15 other delegates from around the world, had been chosen to serve three-year terms from January 2011 to 2013.

“They appoint expert bodies because they want them to be independent of member states, independent of any sort of organizations that have some sort of interest,” said Broddi Sigurdarson, social affairs officer with the secretariat of the Permanent Forum.

Originally from Tl’azt’en Nation in British Columbia, John was chosen as the North American member of the 10th session of the Permanent Forum following nominations from the Assembly of First Nations and the First Nations Summit.

Sigurdarson explained that these high-profile recommendations certainly contributed to John getting the appointment, but ultimately it is his experience and knowledge of Indigenous issues that qualified him for the position.

Out of the 16-member panel, eight representatives are elected by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations, while the other half are appointments based on nominations from Indigenous organizations. A member is chosen from each region of the world: North America, Latin America and Caribbean, Africa, Asia, the Pacific, the Russian Federation Eastern Europe, Trans-Caucaucasia, and the Arctic.

“It’s a big challenge and I welcome it,” said John about his new position. “It’s an important forum for Indigenous peoples worldwide.”

John said he plans to make strides in the area of treaty rights, and in pushing for the remaining states that have opposed the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples to endorse the document.

“Once we have all of the four countries endorse it, it becomes more of a consensus document,” said John.

In March, the government of Canada announced it would take steps to endorse the declaration which they voted against when it was adopted around the world in September 2007.

John, who has been a lawyer for the past 30 years, acknowledged that with this position comes great responsibility. He is confident, however, that his legal background and one particular close friend will help.

The former co-chair of the North American Indigenous Caucus feels confident knowing that if he needs guidance he can call upon the former Permanent Forum appointee for North America, Wilton Littlechild, who is now a commissioner with the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, a group that sprang from the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement in Canada.

“He’s probably Canada’s guru of knowledge when it comes to Indigenous issues,” said John. “He’s a good guy to have in your corner.”

Littlechild, who became a lawyer in 1976, graduating with a degree from the University of Alberta, served two consecutive terms with the Permanent Forum from 2002 to 2007.

“When you are dealing with specific agenda issues, whether it’s health or education, they all have a rights-based approach, so to be familiar with the legal perspective is very helpful,” explained Littlechild, who was confident that John’s legal background is an advantage while he holds a seat on the forum.
John beat out three other Aboriginal nominees for the position.

Grand Chief John is currently serving his eighth consecutive term on the First Nations Summit Task Group, the organization representing the British Columbia First Nations involved in treaty negotiations.

The 10th session of the Permanent Forum will be held in New York from May 16 to 27, 2011.