Statement on UNDRIP and TRC Calls to Action

The CAA endorses and adopts the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action. The CAA acknowledges that Indigenous cultural heritage, including archaeological sites and artifacts, is the cultural and intellectual property of Indigenous peoples. Furthermore, the CAA affirms that every reasonable effort must be made to obtain the free, prior and informed consent of the relevant Indigenous communities before their archaeological heritage is investigated, protected, curated, and presented. CAA members will strive to implement the principles of UNDRIP and the TRC Calls to Action in their archaeological work. When dealing with Indigenous archaeological sites and artifacts, CAA members agree:

  1. To acknowledge that Indigenous peoples have the right to maintain, control, protect, and develop their archaeological heritage
  2. To consult with and make every reasonable effort to obtain free, prior and informed consent from relevant Indigenous peoples prior to conducting archaeological investigation of Indigenous archaeological sites or remains
  3. To provide education and training whenever possible for all archaeological staff in their employ on Indigenous rights, history, and treaties, and the legacy of residential schools
  4. To invite Indigenous people to participate on every archaeological project and to make every reasonable effort to hire and train Indigenous people to conduct not only archaeological fieldwork, but also labwork analysis and interpretation of archaeological data and writing of reports
  5. To educate Indigenous peoples, developers, and the general public about the importance and results of archaeological work in a timely manner, in close consultation with Indigenous communities of relevance
  6. To encourage all levels of government to consult with Indigenous communities and organizations to amend policies and legislation so that Indigenous rights to control and protection of their archaeological heritage are consistent with the principles of UNDRIP and the TRC Calls to Action.