The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples A Manual for National Human Rights Institutions The New Zealand Human Rights Commission undertakes an annual survey on the attitudes of New Zealanders to indigenous peoples’ rights.189 1.2. INDIGENOUS PEOPLES Being aware of human rights standards, understanding how to exercise them and knowing how to seek redress for violations are fundamental preconditions for indigenous peoples to realize their human rights. Given indigenous peoples have been historically marginalized from mainstream society, it is not surprising that, in many instances, they are marginalized from public information networks and mechanisms promoting human rights. NHRIs can develop and run targeted awareness raising campaigns for indigenous peoples. However, it is important that awareness raising activities are not confined to urban areas; they must also reach indigenous communities in rural and remote locations. As noted in Chapter 6, it is also important that indigenous peoples are aware of the existence and functions of the NHRI.189190 The Canadian Human Rights Commission has developed a plain language guide to federal human rights legislation for people who work for First Nations governing bodies. The purpose of the guide is to help First Nations managers understand and address human rights issues in their organizations and communities. The guide provides information on the following areas of human rights law: • Understanding discrimination and discriminatory practices • Preventing discrimination and respecting human rights, including developing human rights protection policies and providing human rights training • The Commission’s dispute resolution process • Preparing responses to a discrimination complaint, including using First Nations legal traditions and aboriginal treaty rights • Community-based dispute resolution processes to enable First Nations communities to develop their own dispute resolution processes.190 1.3. PUBLIC OFFICIALS NHRIs can play a critical role in raising awareness of the Declaration and its content among public officials. Activities such as disseminating the Declaration to public officials should be broad and not confined those working in indigenous affairs departments. For example, public officials who are employed in environmental or land demarcation agencies need to be aware of indigenous peoples’ human rights. 189 Response to OHCHR questionnaire on possible good practices in addressing the rights of indigenous peoples. 190 Canadian Human Rights Commission, Human Rights Handbook for First Nations: Rights, Responsibility and Respect (2011), available at http://doyouknowyourrights.ca/nai-ina/pdf/fn_handbook.pdf. 60 | Chapter 7: Awareness raising and education