A United Nations report by special rapporteur James Anaya has blasted Canada for its treatment of its aboriginal peoples.
"It is difficult to reconcile Canada's well-developed legal framework and general prosperity with the human rights problems faced by indigenous peoples in Canada that have reached crisis proportions in many respects," wrote Anaya.
"Moreover, the relationship between the federal government and indigenous peoples is strained, perhaps even more so than when the previous special rapporteur visited Canada in 2003."
Canada's Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt defended the country's aboriginal record as of late, although he admitted that more work needs to be done:
"Our government is proud of the effective and incremental steps taken in partnership with aboriginal communities. We are committed to continuing to work with our partners to make significant progress in improving the lives of aboriginal people in Canada.
"We will review the report carefully to determine how we can best address the recommendations."
Video/Files: The Canadian Press