GENEVA (Reuters) - The U.N. Human Rights Council, brushing aside opposition from Canada and Russia, on Thursday backed a declaration that would strengthen claims by native peoples to control over lands where they live.

The declaration, which calls on states to grant a wide range of rights to indigenous groups around the globe, won 30 votes in the 47-member Council, with 12 abstentions.

Only Canada, which led the opposition and was known to be also reflecting the views of non-Council members Australia, the United States and New Zealand, and Russia voted against.

"This is a victory for all indigenous peoples who have been waiting for centuries for something like this," said Kenneth Deer, a native American closely involved in the negotiations.

The 18-page declaration, which is not binding but calls on governments to introduce laws to underpin its provisions, now goes to the U.N. General Assembly in New York for final approval, probably in September.

Diplomats and representatives of a native peoples' coalition said it will provide states with the basic guidelines for helping their indigenous populations maintain their cultures and their separate identities.

But a Canadian delegate, whose new conservative government lobbied hard to get the declaration delayed for further negotiation, told the Council it would have "no legal effect" in his country -- once a champion of the project.

Canada argued that several of the articles would violate the national constitution or even prevent the country's armed forces from taking measures necessary for its defense.

Indigenous coalition representatives say they believe the big power opposition was largely driven by concern over the potential loss of state control over how natural resources, like oil, gas and timber, are exploited.

Latin American countries with big indigenous communities, including the declaration's main sponsor Peru, Brazil, Ecuador, Mexico and Guatemala, hailed the vote as a major achievement.

But Argentina, accused by rights groups of mistreating its native peoples, abstained.