Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I want to take the opportunity to thank some people who are in the background—literally in the background behind us—the officials within the various departments and so forth. There are lots of dedicated officials there that I've personally worked with over the last number of year

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It would be very disappointing. It would mean we would have to delay the implementation, including some of the financial arrangements and so forth. We've been working hard on our constitution, our supporting governance code, our financial administration code—and rolling our land

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll start on that. I may have spoken to this a little bit before. I think it's very important that the membership understand what's going on and that there be a mandate from the membership beforehand. I've been involved previously in other processes that were somewhat similar,

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The agreement and the arrangements are bilateral between Whitecap and the federal government. I can say that when we started, I, as lead negotiator, and Canada did pursue engaging the provincial government. In hindsight, I was wrong. I think this bilateral arrangement works bette

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll answer first of all. Because I started with Whitecap 13 years ago, it sounds like it might be my fault. Minister, you may want to speak to the question from the government's point of view. It does take time, and it is very frustrating. You have to be very patient. In our

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll start, as far as advice around the first nations, but I'm going to ask the councillors to maybe speak after. Generally, patience, strong community support—there's been community support from the beginning with our community—and understanding, I think, are very important. As

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  One last point on that question is that—and we said this especially as we got to the end and wanted people to participate and understand and vote—there are some people who always participate in those things, but it's not those people in the community who are.... Well, they're imp

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. I will start and will make a few comments. I'm also going to ask our legal counsel Max Faille to reply in French as well. As far as accelerating the process, yes, there are ways. When we have consistency in representation on the federal side, that he

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I appreciate the question. It's an important part of continuing to build our community. With the community around us, we have a good relationship with the local rural municipality. The issue with Whitecap is that on one side there's a river and on the other side there's a base—C

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I just want to say very briefly that the history of the Dakota people in Canada is a unique history. I'm sure Minister Miller will speak to some of that as well. At the end of the day, this treaty gives proper recognition to the Whitecap Dakota people in Canada. It's something