The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is a resolution passed by the United Nations in 2007. In Canada, on June 21, 2021, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act received Royal Assent and came into force. The Act affirms the United Nations Declaration and requires the Government of Canada to work towards its implementation.

A CNSC decision to license the giant Chalk River Radioactive Waste Mound also known as the NSDF, this contradicts the following four UNDRIP articles:

Article 25: “Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain and strengthen their distinctive, spiritual relationship with their traditionally owned and otherwise occupied and used lands, territories, water and coastal seas and other resources and to uphold their responsibilities to future generations in this regard.”

Article 29 (2): 2. “States shall take effective measures to ensure that no storage or disposal of hazardous materials shall take place in the lands or territories of indigenous peoples without their free, prior and informed consent.”

Article 32 (1): “Indigenous peoples have the right to determine and develop priorities and strategies for the development or use of their lands or territories and other resources.”

Article 32 (2): “States shall consult and cooperate in good faith with the Indigenous peoples concerned through their own representative institutions in order to obtain free and informed consent prior to the approval of any project affecting their lands or territories and other resources, particularly in connection with the development, utilization or exploitation of mineral, water or other resources.”