Her declaration echoed the inquiry’s full-throated conclusion that systemic violence against Indigenous women and girls amounts to a “Canadian genocide” in breach of the country’s obligations under international law. The report’s diagnosis reignited a familiar debate over whether Canada’s treatment of Indigenous Peoples constitutes genocide. Since its adoption, the UN treaty has faced criticism from groups who argue its conception of genocide is too restrictive. The report argued that the debate around “cultural genocide” versus “real” genocide is misleading. “These distinguishing factors have, unfortunately, allowed the Canadian consciousness to dismiss Canada’s colonial policies as racist and misconceived, rather than acknowledge them as explicitly genocidal and, even, ongoing.”What was Ottawa’s reaction to the inquiry’s characterization of “Canadian genocide”?

Source: National Post June 03, 2019 22:30 UTC