A Vancouver School Board trustee says it's time the city's schools committed to implementing&nbsp;the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, after B.C. recently became the first province to do so.&nbsp;

Jennifer Reddy&nbsp;has put forward a motion to the board asking for its commitment to UNDRIP. If approved, it will mean curriculum, infrastructure and staffing decisions will be made with respect to how they affect Indigenous students.

"It's a big opportunity to make sure that every decision we are contemplating considers the effect it would have on Indigenous children and youth and their families," said Reddy in an interview on CBC's 

UNDRIP consists of 46 articles ratified by the United Nations, recognizing the basic human rights of Indigenous people along with their rights to self-determination.

B.C. commits to being 1st province in Canada to put UNDRIP into legislation

The B.C. government says it will introduce legislation to implement the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People (UNDRIP), among plans announced in Tuesday's throne speech.

Premier John Horgan speaks to reporters following the throne speech at the B.C. legislature in Victoria.

PHOTOS - PREMIER HORGAN POST THRONE SPEECH SCRUM

Premier John Horgan speaks to reporters following the throne speech at the B.C. legislature in Victoria on Tuesday.

 to align its laws with the declaration.&nbsp;

School trustee Jennifer Reddy says she has always been a settler on unceded territories and her motion to affirm VSB's commitment to UNDRIP is an opportunity to move forward on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's calls to action. 

Jennifer Reddy

Article 14 of UNDRIP says states shall take effective measures to provide access, when possible, to education in their own culture and provided in their own language.&nbsp;

"We have an opportunity to think about how we add language opportunities for Indigenous and non-Indigenous students," said Reddy, adding it would be a way to move forward on the 

Reddy said officially committing to UNDRIP would also be an invitation to&nbsp;community members to hold the board accountable to&nbsp;make sure their policies respect Indigenous students' needs.

"We need to think about the methodology of language and cultural teachings that come with these Indigenous world views that are plural and diverse and different from the current education system," said Reddy.

Truth and Reconciliation offers 94 'calls to action'

​The Truth and Reconciliation Commission has published 94 'calls to action' for indigenous and non-indigenous Canadians to come together in a concerted effort to help repair the harm caused by residential schools and move forward with reconciliation.

Residential school survivor Lorna Standingready is comforted by a fellow survivor in the audience during the closing ceremony of the Indian Residential Schools Truth and Reconciliation Commission, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on Wednesday, June 3, 2015.

Truth and Reconciliation

Residential school survivor Lorna Standingready is comforted by a fellow survivor during the closing ceremony of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on June 3, 2015.

Reddy put forward her motion on Oct. 28. It will be reviewed by the policy and governance committee on Dec. 4.

To hear the complete interview with Jennifer Reddy,&nbsp;tap the audio link below:

VSB trustee Jennifer Reddy says the board should confirm its commitment to the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. 

Vancouver schools must commit to UN's Indigenous rights declaration: board trustee

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