Indigenous peoples
Learn about the journey of Fred Cheezo, an Indigenous person who has faced homelessness, discrimination, and exclusion. (French only)
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The laws that protect your rights
The Québec Charter of Human Rights and Freedoms
The Québec Charter protects your rights and freedoms in many areas of life, including:
- at work
- in housing
- in public services, public transportation, and public places
- in legal transactions (like contracts and insurance policies)
It also protects your rights in private matters, such as interactions with :
- neighbours
- family members (like parents, siblings, cousins, etc.)
- landlords and employers
The Québec Charter protects you from discrimination and harassment.
You cannot be treated differently because of your Indigenous identity, as this would constitute discrimination on the basis of ethnic or national origin—one of the 14 prohibited grounds for discrimination under the Québec Charter.
Learn more about: prohibited grounds | discrimination | harassment
The Canadian Human Rights ActThe Canadian Human Rights Act is a federal law that protects you from discrimination throughout Canada. It applies to situations involving federal laws and programs, as well as companies or organizations under federal jurisdiction, such as:
- banks
- airlines
- federal departments and agencies
- First Nations governments and band councils
The Act protects you from discrimination and harassment on 11 prohibited grounds, including national or ethnic origin. If you experience discrimination or harassment due to your Indigenous identity, and the situation involves a federally regulated business or organization, you can file a complaint. Read the Canadian Human Rights Act
The Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and familiesThis federal law aims to:
- affirm the inherent right of First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples to self-government, which includes jurisdiction over child and family services
- establish principles for providing child and family services to Indigenous children across Canada, such as prioritizing the best interests of the child, ensuring cultural continuity, and promoting substantive equality, alongside other standards to guarantee that Indigenous people receive adequate services
- contribute to the implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP)
The Act empowers Indigenous communities to create their own laws concerning child and family services. Currently, many Indigenous communities and coalitions nationwide are actively developing such laws for their members. In Québec, the Atikamekw Council of Opitciwan has led the way by enacting the Atikamekw of Opitciwan Social Protection Act.
The Act respecting First Nations, Inuit and Métis children, youth and families also enhances Québec’s legal framework for youth protection. For example:
- Services provided to Indigenous children must consider their needs and culture and allow them to know their family origins (Section 11).
- Preventive care to support the child’s family must be given priority over other services whenever this serves the child’s best interests (Section 14)
- Children cannot be removed from their home solely due to socioeconomic factors like poverty, overcrowding, or a parent’s health—again, provided this is in the child’s best interests (Section 15).
Read the Indigenous child and family services Act
The Canadian Charter of Rights and FreedomsThe Canadian Charter is part of the Constitution, the highest law in Canada. It protects many rights and freedoms essential to a free and democratic society, and applies to laws and government actions.
The Canadian Charter protects:
- your fundamental freedoms (like freedom of religion, opinion, and expression)
- your democratic rights (like the right to vote)
- your equality rights
- your Aboriginal rights
Unlike the Québec Charter and the Canadian Human Rights Act, the Canadian Charter can only be used to challenge the government or its representatives, like government departments or band councils.
The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) and the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples ActUNDRIP is an international declaration that established a global framework for ensuring the survival, dignity, well-being, and rights of Indigenous peoples. It outlines how states must respect the fundamental rights of Indigenous peoples, including their right to:
- equal treatment
- self-determination and self-government
- maintain and strengthen their distinct political, legal, economic, social, and cultural institutions
- revitalize, use, develop, and transmit their histories, languages, oral traditions, philosophies, writing systems, and literatures to future generations
UNDRIP is based on four key principles:
- the right to self-determination
- the right to be recognized as distinct peoples
- the right to free, prior, and informed consent
- the right to be free from discrimination
The United Nations General Assembly adopted UNDRIP in 2007. In 2016, Canada fully endorsed it and committed to implementing it completely and effectively.
In 2021, the Canadian government passed the UNDRIP Act, which requires that all federal laws align with the Declaration. This Act also required the government to create and implement an action plan to achieve the goals of UNDRIP.
Read the UNDRIP Made Easy (French only)
Read the UNDRIP
Read the UNDRIP Act -
Defending your rights
Several organizations can help you defend your rights, but the specifics of your situation will determine which one can handle your complaint. Discrimination and Harassment
If you experience discrimination or harassment by an individual, business, or organization (like an employer or service provider) that is under Québec jurisdiction (including health, education, and social services), find out if you can file a complaint with the Commission des droits de la personne et des droits de la jeunesse du Québec.
File a Complaint with the Québec Commission
If you experience discrimination or harassment by a business or organization (like an employer or service provider) that is federally regulated (such as banks, airlines, federal government departments, or band councils), find out if you can file a complaint with the Canadian Human Rights Commission.
File a complaint with the Canadian Commission
Violation of the rights of a child under the care of the director of youth protection (DYP)- Generally, you can request an investigation from the Québec Commission if a child’s rights are being violated (Learn more about violation of rights).
Request an investigation - If you are an Indigenous child or care for one, and the child’s community has its own child and family services law, there may be a separate complaint process. Contact your youth protection organization for more information.
- Generally, you can request an investigation from the Québec Commission if a child’s rights are being violated (Learn more about violation of rights).
Aboriginal peoples: Fact and fiction
See the tools developed around our landmark publication Aboriginal peoples: Fact and fiction and additional resources to combat systemic racism and discrimination against indigenous peoples.
The Québec Charter in Indigenous languages
This simplified version of the Québec Charter explains each section with plain language and clear examples, and is available in several languages , including:
- kanien'kéha (PDF, 7 Mo)
- innu-aimun (PDF, 8 Mo)
- anicinape (PDF, 10 Mo)
- cri (PDF, 8 Mo)
- inuktitut (PDF, 18 Mo)
- atikamekw (PDF, 13 Mo)
The Charter Made Easy is based on the version of the Charter in force in 2015.