Federal Government Issues Action Plan for Implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act

June 21, 2023, marked an important milestone in the path towards reconciliation as the federal government issued an action plan for the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples Act (“the UN Declaration Act”).

The UN Declaration Act requires the federal government to work in consultation and cooperation with Indigenous peoples to identify the measures necessary to ensure that federal laws are consistent with UNDRIP, and to develop an action plan for achieving the objectives of UNDRIP. The action plan is an important step in upholding and implementing the rights of Indigenous peoples in Canada.

The action plan highlights the federal government’s priorities in relation to the implementation of the UN Declaration Act into Canadian law. In relation to the fields of intellectual property, traditional knowledge, and traditional cultural expression, priority 101 in Chapter 1: Shared Priorities provides that the federal government will:

Work in consultation and cooperation with First Nations, Inuit, and Métis to ensure appropriate measures are in place for Indigenous peoples to maintain, control, protect and develop their cultural heritage, traditional knowledge and traditional cultural expressions, including working in partnership with responsible government departments to ensure that Canada’s intellectual property legislative and regulatory frameworks (e.g., Copyright Act, Trademarks Act, Patent Act) are consistent with the UN Declaration. 

As the professional association of patent agents, trademark agents and lawyers practicing in all areas of intellectual property law, the Intellectual Property Institute of Canada (IPIC) looks forward to participating and lending its expertise to this important reconciliation effort with Canada and Indigenous peoples.

For more information please visit: https://www.justice.gc.ca/eng/declaration/ap-pa/index.html or contact IPIC at admin@ipic.ca