The United Church, as an active member of KAIROS, has been an advocate for the adoption and implementation of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples for many years.  A UN Declaration Task Group was formed in December 2015 to 1) develop the statement issued on March 31, 2016, and a format for ongoing reporting; and 2) develop and implement a process to engage the whole church in complying with this Call to Action, providing a mechanism with which to assess compliance in all our policies, programs, and practices. The task group has begun introductory sessions with the national governing bodies, and is looking forward to providing resources to Conferences, presbyteries, and communities of faith so they may begin to examine their way of doing things according to the norms, principles, and standards of the Declaration.

The church has been increasingly moving toward Indigenous self-determination in its structures and policies. On March 30, 2016, the United Church joined the broader ecumenical community in announcing a collective intention to implement the principles, norms, and standards of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples as the framework for reconciliation (see http://www.united-church.ca/news/release-ecumenical-statement-un-declaration).

On March 31, 2016, the United Church issued its own statement expressing its commitment to honouring this Call to Action (www.united-church.ca/news/united-church-responds-call-action- un-declaration). This statement was offered as the Aboriginal Ministries Council in the United Church, accompanied by the non-Indigenous (settler) church, began a process of consultation to determine its own vision and future structure. The Caretakers of Our Indigenous Circle, a group of 13 Indigenous leaders, will make recommendations to the 43rd General Council in 2018.

Part of ecumenical community announcement to implement the principles, norms, and standards of UNDRIP as the framework for reconciliation.