Evidence of meeting #54 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was students.
A video is available from Parliament.
6:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Jamie Schmale
That's two minutes. Thank you very much.
I will be tight with the timing on everybody, because we are running out of time.
We go now to the Liberals.
Jaime Battiste, you have minutes.
March 8th, 2023 / 6:30 p.m.
Liberal
Jaime Battiste Liberal Sydney—Victoria, NS
Thank you.
Wela’liek, Blaire, for your presentation today. MK showcases a model between the department and AFN that is succeeding in what you're doing. I understand just now that you signed a 10-year agreement in 2019.
For all those first nations out there who would like to replicate the successes of MK, what would you recommend on how communities can get to a sectoral self-government for communities that want to work together on this?
6:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
We are a very big promoter of sectoral self-government agreements. It comes first with a lot of unity and a united front amongst the collective who are willing to work together. Remember, when the MK discussion started in 1992, it was with all 13 communities here in Nova Scotia. At the time when we negotiated the agreement, nine communities were ready. I'm very proud that we're a 12-community member collective today. That didn't stop us early on in 1997. We were respectful of the readiness that needed to happen for the other communities.
For us, the 10-year agreement of course offers a lot of time to get things done, rather than, by the time you implement the agreement in year one, already needing to go into negotiations to set up the next agreement by year two or three. We've done a lot of presentations across the country for sectoral self-government agreements. It appears that a lot of communities are going through the REA route, the regional educational agreement route. It's not that different, but it's not quite the same. We're obviously just a step above, promoting the REAs into more of a sectoral agreement.
6:30 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Jamie Schmale
That was exactly two minutes.
We will now go to Ms. Gill for two minutes.
6:30 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Thank you very much, Mr. Chair.
My last question is for the entire panel.
We have heard about the funding. It's an expectation that everyone has of the federal government. Of course, we are talking about recurrent funding that can be relied on. However, if you had any other recommendations for the committee—either concerning emergencies or structural recommendations—what would they be?
Again, my question is for Dr. Cook, Ms. Wrightson and Ms. Gould.
6:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Dechinta Centre for Research and Learning
Thank you so much for that question.
As you indicated, stable long-term funding is really important for us to be able to continue to invest in the relationships to deliver new and innovative programming. Part of that is also having really healthy communication with the government, making sure that we're able to share the successes of our programming and making sure that we're able to ensure that everything is being measured according to evaluation systems that make sense for the indigenous communities that we're working in. It's just having open communication and trust established between us, the communities and the government that we work alongside.
Mahsi.
6:30 p.m.
Executive Director, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
Thank you.
This is a very good question, because often we feel that we're limited and we wish that we weren't. Often our innovation gets the best of us. We are on a lot more different trajectory when it comes to the different programmings and services we offer. Often budget announcements or budget allocations come, usually, when we're about five to seven years in implementation. That is one limitation that we often face.
One area that we would wish increased funding for is, of course, wage parity for our teachers. That retains them and allows us to grow our system and not compete with the public school system, for example. In addition, language and culture—
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Jamie Schmale
Thank you very much, Ms. Gould. I'm sorry, but I do have to cut you off. Maybe Ms. Idlout will allow you to continue. I'm very sorry to have to cut you off. I do apologize. We lose translation services right at 6:45, so we are tight here.
You have two more minutes, Ms. Idlout.
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Jamie Schmale
Can you hold on for one second? We did not get translation at our end. I will reset the clock.
Ms. Idlout, do you mind repeating that?
6:35 p.m.
NDP
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
This question is for Blaire Gould.
How did you start the process to get your self-governance? This is very important information that we need to hear. What did you have to do to get to where you are today?
6:35 p.m.
Executive Director, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
Thank you.
Just as a brief historical timeline, in 1991 we approached the then Department of Indian Affairs. We wanted a Mi’kmaq education authority to assume control over first nation education. In 1992, that conversation changed from what we had wanted originally—
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Jamie Schmale
Ms. Gould, I'm very sorry. We are still having an issue with interpretation here. We're just waiting for the French translation.
Hold that thought, Ms. Gould. I'm very sorry.
6:35 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
The interpretation is back, Mr. Chair, but I didn't hear Ms. Idlout's question. I don't know if we have time, but perhaps she could repeat it.
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Jamie Schmale
Now I'm not getting the French translation.
Hold tight. Please hold.
6:35 p.m.
Executive Director, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
I know it's been a long day for a lot of you, but every time you say “hold”, you have to add one minute to my clock.
6:35 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Jamie Schmale
I am very sorry. I didn't want to interrupt that last time, because you were speaking. I thought for sure you were going to come through the screen and strangle me.
6:35 p.m.
Voices
Oh, oh!
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Jamie Schmale
Are we good? We're good to go. Okay.
I don't even know where we left off, so....
Ms. Gill, did you hear the question?
6:35 p.m.
Executive Director, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
I have a photographic memory. In 1991—
6:35 p.m.
Conservative
The Vice-Chair Conservative Jamie Schmale
Ms. Gill did not get the French translation of the question. Is there any way we could repeat the question for Ms. Gill, and then—