Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  First of all, we would like to see a service for the north, a committee, as the member mentioned in a question earlier—a committee and a service to ensure we are prepared. That is why we are here today. Of course, I can go on and on about reconciliation and the many things that our first nations people want as far as treaty recognition, our homelands, jurisdiction, ownership of our homelands and honouring the treaties.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I believe they are not in line with reconciliation. It has been many years. I only say that because, as I stated earlier, we've lost lives, and we continue to lose lives due to these circumstances. We talk about reconciliation. In many ways, it means many different things to different people across the country, whether you're first nations, non-first nations, or Inuit.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I can expand on that a little. Obviously we've been preparing for this coming summer and season, and we're hopeful that the fire season is not as bad as it was last summer. Just working with tribal councils that have led this, we've heard certain tribal councils that are strong in response.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  When it comes to emergency response and these crises we see, I think prevention is the foundation of everything. It's just being prepared to ensure that, first of all, lives are not lost. We've lost people and we've lost young people. The families get scattered throughout the province and even across Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Good afternoon. Thank you for the statement. Yes, we definitely need that service. Before I proceed, I'm going to ask Mike McKay, our lead on this, to speak to some of the things you said shortly. Yes, emergency preparedness is much needed, I don't think there are many plans in place for our territory.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. I'd like to first of all acknowledge that we're on the unceded Algonquin Anishinabe territory. I appreciate this opportunity to appear before this committee on behalf of the 49 first nations of Nishnawbe Aski Nation. Emergency management is critical for first nations, especially our remote communities.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  To give you an example of the hub model he was talking about, we have 32 remotes. We have larger communities and we have smaller communities. What if Webequie, for instance, had the main centre and we had other elders from other areas going to Webequie? It might not be “home” home, but they're in the north: they're home.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It might be just the bigger communities that have the capacity to do. I know that capacity is another issue, as is land. I know that in Attawapiskat they can't build any more houses because there's no land. They're working with the federal government to get more land so that they can build more houses.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I can answer that. As I mentioned earlier, we have 32 remote communities and 49 altogether. You asked us about what conditions are like. As Mike alluded to earlier when we talked about the social determinants of health, I would say that 90% of those would make up our issues. You're talking about education, infrastructure, and social challenges.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm going to have James answer that question.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We were going to reverse the order, if that's okay with you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Derek Fox. I'm deputy grand chief of Nishnawbe Aski Nation. My home is Bearskin Lake First Nation, the community that is the second-farthest north in northern Ontario. For those who don't know, Nishnawbe Aski Nation makes up two-thirds of the Ontario land mass.