"New trade agreement a 'step up' from NAFTA on Indigenous rights", 1 Oct 2018

...Ottawa's push to include an Indigenous chapter in a new trade agreement with the U.S. and Mexico was a "long-shot." But... the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) is still an improvement to NAFTA because it specifically mentions Indigenous Peoples throughout the text. "I think it's a step up and it brings attention to Indigenous Peoples in this new agreement, attention that wasn't there in the NAFTA agreement," said [Kenneth] Deer [, diplomat representing six Iroquois nations]...  In the end, the USMCA emerged without an Indigenous chapter, but its ideals were "woven throughout" the fabric of the final deal, according to [Canadian] Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Deer said the small gains in this deal could open a path for further inclusion of Indigenous rights in future trade deals... UNDRIP is not mentioned in the final deal... The deal refers to Indigenous Peoples in a new chapter on the environment which recognizes... Indigenous Peoples' roles in the conservation of the environment, sustainable fisheries, forestry and biodiversity conservation... [It also includes provisions that would] allow for duty-free cross-border trade on hand-crafted Indigenous textiles and clothing along with wording that promotes support for small and medium-sized businesses owned by underrepresented groups, including Indigenous Peoples... The deal also preserves pre-existing carve-outs from NAFTA affecting Indigenous Peoples...