Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are 74 first nations that are signatories to the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations convention. One first nation, by their own choice, want to be independent, but they reap the benefits of the work that is being done. Across the province of Saskatchewan I believe there are about 133 to 150 first nations communities, reserves, that are occupied.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would hope that any judge or any individual who has attained the right to be a judge is honourable and would make their judgments unbiased. And certainly we do have expectations that every judge who is selected will be very responsive and sensitive to our regions. Ideally, as I mentioned before, sir, it would be somebody who knows the terrain—the politics, the culture, and the traditions of Saskatchewan—who we'd like to see there.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll go to my technician to answer that one.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, before I go to the vice-chief, let me say I think it's appropriate for every region to.... As I mentioned earlier, no bill is perfect, but it's appropriate for every chief in Canada to offer suggestions for improvement as they pertain to their territory. Overall—and I will be very cautious, as I don't speak for all of Canada—we support this.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, without any hesitation I would certainly agree with the member that there was effort. In fact, a very public announcement on June 12, 2007, by the Prime Minister of Canada to announce this effort, which is about.... In 60 years nothing has really moved. I think a lot of chiefs in Saskatchewan looked, at the very least, with great anticipation, positive anticipation to the fact that something was going to be done.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, sir, there is pretty broad support, because what we had before was basically nothing. I must say, though, that under our treaty promise we try to live according to the laws of the land, but oftentimes we seem to be in litigation after the fact, and that's costly for us. I don't think any of our chiefs in Saskatchewan want to go through that.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Well, not to be facetious, Mr. Chairman, but I think the amendment I would like is that there be no ceiling on any of these claims whatsoever. I think that would be fair and realistic in terms of your national debt to the world. What about your debt to the first nations people? Why should there be a ceiling on anything when you're talking about a debt that has been there since the treaties were signed?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Zero. Is there some? A very small percentage. Jayme, I don't know, maybe you have some figures.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  At least the backlog, anyway. I guess that's what I was referring to, the backlog of 95 claims in Saskatchewan. I think a lot of them will fall within the number that is allocated for.... It's the ceiling, I mean. But as for the other ones, we just never know, as they come about.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would agree with that, with some reservations. But when you look at the majority, I think nationally we're looking at 95%—and that's just a figure I throw out—that would be looked after with this particular bill if it comes about. Thereby, if the bill cannot cover the ones over $150 million, didn't focus on them, I think that's politically sound and certainly something that first nations would like some commitment on.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mr. Chairman, on the duty to consult, given the nature of the work that was done, as you know, the bill had to be kept secret. It's very difficult when I go back to my region where the chiefs are asking what's happening and I can't tell them. That's the nature, and I think based on the mutual respect of the joint task force, we kept our silence, and they kept their silence.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. [Witness speaks in his native language] I'm just kidding you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't think the interpreter does. I'll go to the last one, sir, if I may, and we'll give the others to our panel. It would be our dream to have some of these hearings in Saskatchewan. It would be minimal in cost. We wouldn't have to bring the whole band in; it would be preferable to have a judge deal with our issues right at home.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  One of the things I might add, Mr. Chairman, is that there was actually will within the committee to say, “Well, we've always done it this way”, from the government side. There were no excuses. I would like to offer improvements on this, but I have very few. The process that was employed was right from the top.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for those questions. Simply put, the process that was there before did not work. The Canadian government, of course, was in a very serious conflict situation. The timeframes were non-existent, and the Indian Claims Commission could not compel them to do anything. It's just very much a flawed system.