Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The Nisga'a agreement that was made also encompasses total population. The contribution agreements that happened for our people are just for the reserve population. Yet when it comes to elections, those people living off reserve have the opportunity to vote. For one thing, that mail-in ballot system should be booted the hell out to Mars.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Then there are people who are living way out there, from different reserves, and they don't vote. They don't give a hoot in hell to come and vote. They're making their living out there. But yet over here sometimes their name appears on a ballot. That's the kind of bullshit we've been subjected to election-wise.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Meegwetch. What I would like to see is continued dialogue. If you don't have dialogue, then things aren't going to happen. Our chiefs have to receive money from this outfit to be able to work, to get together, and to put work together on this issue from a first nations perspective.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Iyiniw pikiskwewin ki wi pikikwatinawaw. I was a chief for 20 years. I haven't been chief for awhile now, but once a chief always a chief to people, I guess. I'm from Saskatchewan. During the time of treaties, Chief Ahtahkakoop was a major chief in Treaty 6. There were two major chiefs: Mistawasis and Ahtahkakoop.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Askitakwa sini. I am Barry Ahenakew, chief of the Ahtahkakoop.