Are Aboriginal peoples involved in the domestic and international debates on ABS?
Yes. At the domestic level, there is on-going capacity-building work being done with members of the National Aboriginal Organizations. The Federal Government is funding Aboriginal organizations to conduct research on such ABS-related issues as the protection of TK and the relationship between ABS and various land claim and self-government agreements. Input from Aboriginal peoples is essential for ensuring that their interests are reflected in the development of ABS policies. Raising awareness and building research capacity are among the key elements for a better involvement of Canadian Aboriginal communities. At the international level, representatives of the National Aboriginal Organizations and Aboriginal experts from Canada are involved in various international forums addressing ABS-related issues (e.g., meetings at WIPO/CBD and workshops on ABS). Under the Convention on Biological Diversity, Canada has been a strong advocate of the need to involve Aboriginal peoples in the debate a
