UNDRIP: Australian Social Justice Commissioner visits Kahnawà:ke

Press Release

May 13, 2026

The Mohawk Council of Kahnawà:ke wishes to inform the community that the Ratitsénhaienhs met with the Social Justice Commissioner of the Australian Human Rights Commission (Australia’s national human rights institution) after its duly convened Council meeting closed on Monday, May 11th.

The visit to Kahnawà:ke was organized by Kenneth Deer at the request of the Social Justice Commissioner. The delegates included the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner Katie Kiss, and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Australian Human Rights Commission Director Nick Devereaux.

The meeting centered around discussions and experiences of United Nations Declaration of Indigenous People (UNDRIP’s) implementation at all Canadian government levels, and efforts Kahnawà:ke has made in upholding this implementation. The delegation has been travelling across Canada, stopping at various Indigenous Nations to hear on what Australia can learn of UNDRIP’s application and implementation through legislation.

The MCK reiterated its longstanding position that Canada continues to fall short on its obligations under UNDRIP, citing continued inaction and failure to make meaningful implementations of its commitments.

Learnings from the visit will inform a wider research process over the span of 12 months where key findings will be documented in the Commissioner’s next Social Justice Report in 2027.

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The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) is a comprehensive international instrument adopted in 2007, establishing minimum standards for the survival, dignity, and well-being of Indigenous peoples worldwide. On June 21, 2021, the UNDRIP act became Canadian Law, following years of advocacy from Indigenous Nations demanding Canada follow suit. To learn more about UNDRIP and policies, please visit https://social.desa.un.org/issues/indigenous-peoples/united-nations-declaration-on-the-rights-of-indigenous-peoples.

The Australian Delegation included Katie Kiss, Aboriginal and Torress Strait Islander Social Justice Commissioner, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Social Justice Australian Human Rights Commission Director, Nick Devereaux, Indigenous Futures Center Research Fellow from the University of Queensland Dr. Janine Gertz, and School of Government and International Relations Postdoctoral Research Fellow from Griffith University, Dr. Madeleine Pugin.

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