Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Again, at the end of my original presentation I indicated that we would like the government to withdraw Bill C-30. Then throughout some of the comments and questions today I indicated that we would like the opportunity to work with this, because in one aspect it is going to be a benefit to the communities.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would have to agree, yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As the grand chief of the association, I do not have the mandate to consult on behalf of my member nations. It's been clearly indicated to me that the duty to consult lies directly with the first nations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't know personally, but I do know of the one specific claim in one of our communities, which is the Batchewana First Nation, and the concern there is in regard to the $150 million cap. It's my understanding they believe their claim is worth well more than $150 million.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  What I was going to say is that there was nothing we could see that clearly indicated where first nations that had claims in excess of $150 million were going to go. Were they going to be channelled into the specific claims process?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think there probably should have been another component in this: that once Canada and the AFN had developed a bill, there should have been a process that allowed first nations the opportunity to sit down in working groups to review and analyze the potential impacts or potential benefits that might arise out of that bill, and that allowed us to provide this government or any government with suggestions or recommendations on how to move forward on a jointly developed piece of legislation.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. I want to clarify that just my organization felt that the consultation process was inadequate. I'm not sure how the Assembly of First Nations did their consultation process throughout the rest of the country.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, there has been no real consultation. Our opportunity to comment to the AFN was to express our same comments as we're bringing forth today at their special meeting on December 11. Again, it was December 11, and we only received the presentation on December 6. I feel that the consultation process was inadequate.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I wouldn't have a problem with judges. I wouldn't have a problem with your comment about being appointed by the government and first nations. However, I have a concern about the advisory committee itself. To me, an advisory committee only provides advice or recommendations. How would it be accepted if the advisory committee recommended A, B, and C, and then, when it got to wherever it goes, they said they were not going with A, B, and C?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Prior to coming here. That was my comment.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Correct, yes. And I did indicate that the AFN, through the resolutions, was mandated to work with the Government of Canada to develop this process. But in the meantime, it was also our understanding that once that process was developed and the bill was developed it would come back to the first nations for review and consultation.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, move forward, but we would still like the opportunity to review the bill and provide comment.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In terms of the relationship with the province, again, similar to what Eliza has indicated on the division of powers, with us, the federal government and the provincial government are the crown, one and the same. Maybe there should be a relationship with the province in these matters.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, I don't think you're wrong. Again, we do support the Assembly of First Nations. However, as in any other organization, we do have concerns about organizations and their way of doing business. Of course, I could say the same for my own organization at times too, and that also can be applied to both the federal and provincial governments.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Comfort level? I guess I'll be honest with you and say that for the first nations here, there's always going to be a level of trust that's not there; I guess it's been for too many years. It's going to be hard to change that comfort level. I can understand that government changes, the people who sit at those tables change, and hopefully it's part of our job that we can eventually educate the members of Parliament as to who first nations people are and what our roles are in this country.