Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We are very active in trying to share the approach of the sectoral self-government arrangement. I know that the education branch is very active. There's the example of a Manitoba school board that was put in place. I'm afraid that I'm blanking out on the name, but that is another approach.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We have about 46 negotiation tables across the country, from the Northwest Territories to transboundary agreements between Yukon and B.C., and B.C. into Yukon. We have an agreement that we're negotiating or a claim that we're negotiating in the Maritimes, but the majority of our business is in B.C.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think it was a very positive development. I think it is an approach, and I know that Chief Bear is addressing the indigenous education component at home in Whitecap Dakota. These kinds of agreements between communities and first nations exist all over the country. They are very much under the radar.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, I quite agree, and that is what we're hoping will come out of the recent agreement that was signed with the Anishinabek First Nation. I believe that 23 first nations signed on. We have a good-sized aggregate that gives us some of the elements of school boards and that kind of a thing.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't have that specific number handy. I know that—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Modern treaties are the continuation of the treaty process that began in the 1800s. I mean, that's really—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No. Comprehensive land claims is the official title of the policy.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As part of our policy renewal, that is something that we will be looking to change to a more appropriate name for our policy. Modern treaties is something that has come into current usage, particularly coming out of B.C.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The short answer is no. If land claims and other issues have been addressed by either a historic treaty or other lawful means under the policy, they're not eligible for a modern treaty.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  They're not eligible for comprehensive claims, but they are eligible to negotiate self-government arrangements.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, it's not. In the past, it was not part of a modern treaty negotiation. That changed in the early nineties and now it is considered an essential part of a modern treaty. However, you don't need to have a modern treaty process to negotiate self-government.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, they have. We are working with that committee in terms of reviewing the self-government policy, the comprehensive claims policy, and the specific claims policy. That is a top-down exercise, and we're also at the same time pursuing a bit of a bottom-up exercise by working with different indigenous groups on what they see as the reforms necessary to the comprehensive claims policy.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think that review will seek to find ways to implement the UN declaration.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, the policies are informed by court decisions. Some of them are very directive. I would point to how reconciliation has been integrated into the policy as a result of court decisions over the past 10 years.