Canadian Heritage committee  I think the federal government can help, can definitely assist. Now, as far as what its role would be, I wouldn't say that its position would have to be so dominant. However, it could be there as a support system, definitely, and then be aware and be consulted, and everyone could work together on engagement.

Canadian Heritage committee  Hopefully that answers your question.

Canadian Heritage committee  Can you repeat that please? Sorry, I was distracted.

Canadian Heritage committee  Right now the facility is built. I just spoke to the museum society here last week, and the big hurdle that we're running into is lack of funding. We're pretty much ready to go, but we just need these important components that we're talking about today. We don't have money put aside to hire an employee.

Canadian Heritage committee  Definitely. For the elder, Mike Beaver, who started it, it was kind of a vision, and now seeing other members and a younger generation taking this on.... As an elder you can do only so much in travelling time and commitment. Then you see a lot of other people taking the effort and time to fill in that void.

Canadian Heritage committee  We couldn't house them...?

Canadian Heritage committee  Well, prior to that, I don't think members even knew or were aware that these items were there. As I said, I came across this when I was doing my own personal research on my great-grandfather. It was like I stumbled upon it. It wasn't as if I had said, “Oh, I'm going to go find out where all this is.”

Canadian Heritage committee  In the case of the RAM, the reason is that they didn't have enough room. That was what they told me. Also, it wasn't within what they had set up in their indigenous display. We do have one item that is currently displayed right now at the new facility. It's actually a moss bag that's there right now.

Canadian Heritage committee  That's correct.

Canadian Heritage committee  I think collective community engagement would be number one, getting involved with the elders and the families and getting their input and insights. Also, there would be the gathering of that information and working with the museums to get them to consult and educate the communities on how to care for them.

Canadian Heritage committee  I know of one young man, whose name is Jesse Donovan. He is currently working on the repatriation of the Louis Riel artifact. I believe it's at a museum in Manitoba. They have an artifact there, and he has been working with them collectively with the Manitoba Métis Federation.

Canadian Heritage committee  How long do I have?

Canadian Heritage committee  When I was looking into my great-grandfather Maxime Beauregard, it was tough. I was sitting around one day with family and I wondered where he was buried. Nobody knew in our home community. I think most people want to know their identity, where they come from, their roots. He died in 1963.

Canadian Heritage committee  That's a great question. That has been brought up, about sponsorship from the private sector and from industry. I think it would be good to have a sponsorship, but what does that look like? Is this going to be some agreement that we write up with, for example, Al-Pac, and it's only for 18 months or two years?

Canadian Heritage committee  That's right, you can't just have lip service.