ABSTRACT
This chapter looks at what the vision of self-determination may be as it is described in the contents of a treaty or other expressions of political aspiration, and then talk about the government’s response to reconciliation through a policy of ‘practical reconciliation’. The right to self-determination is recognised under international law in Article 1 of both of the canonical human rights documents, the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights and the International Covenant on Economic, Social and Cultural Rights. Without a rights framework that works, there is no ability to create and protect the rights to economic self-sufficiency and Indigenous peoples, families and communities will only be dependent on welfare. The federal government’s indignant response to the report is to be noted as it signals an emerging resentment towards external monitoring of human rights standards. North American free trade agreement requires signatory parties not to impose export restrictions on goods destined for the territory of another party.
