[Witness spoke in Dakota and provided the following text:]
Aŋpetu wašte. Frank Royal emakiyapi do.
Iyuškiŋyan wačhiyakapi do. Čhaŋte wašteya nape čheyuzapi do.
[Witness provided the following translation:]
Good day. My name is Frank Royal.
It's good to see you all. I shake all your hands with a good heart.
[English]
Madam Chair and committee members, thank you for having us here today to present.
I'd like to introduce the Whitecap team here: director of self-government, Murray Long; councillor Dwayne Eagle; and legal counsel, Max, on Zoom.
We're glad to be here.
One of the things I will touch on is our history, the Dakota peoples in Canada.
As part of self-government, we wanted to seek proper recognition of Whitecap Dakota, based on our contribution as allies of the British Crown. The case was made to Minister Miller, and he made the case to cabinet to correct this historical oversight.
We have now negotiated a self-government treaty that affirms the Dakota as aboriginal peoples of Canada. Bill C-51 will affirm our place and protect our agreement as a section 35 treaty within Canada. The self-government treaty also has provisions for future negotiations to address other aboriginal rights, such as a small land base and parity with other numbered treaties.
Thank you for listening. I'll turn it over to Councillor Eagle.