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Indigenous community in Canada sued government over right to prior informed consent

22 May 2026 11:43 (UTC +04:00)

A local indigenous community in Canada sued the government over the right to prior informed consent, Penelope Kerrigan, representative of the Haida people, said during the session titled “The Rights of Indigenous Peoples: Adequate Housing for All Indigenous Peoples in Their Diversity” held within the framework of WUF13, APA-Economics reports.

According to her, for indigenous peoples, housing is not merely a matter of social programs or infrastructure, but also an issue connected to land, culture, governance, and the right to self-determination.

Kerrigan stated that recognizing land rights, ensuring prior informed consent, and involving local communities in decision-making are essential for guaranteeing the housing rights of indigenous peoples.

She noted that the Haida people sued the government for the recognition of these rights and ultimately succeeded in securing protection for the right of local communities to prior informed consent.

Kerrigan added that the housing issue of indigenous peoples should be approached not only as a matter of social protection, but also as an issue of rights and land.

Rahim Tariverdiyev

Penelope Kerrigan Haida people Canada WUF13 indigenous peoples prior informed consent land rights housing rights self-determination indigenous communities governance cultural rights local communities court case urban development collective rights APA-Economics Baku