Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. First of all, when we look at Bill C-15, it's like any piece of legislation; it's not perfect. In this case, however, perfection is not simple. The enemy of the good, I guess you could say, is demanding perfection of Bill C-15, as this operates directly against the rights and the interests of the indigenous women and girls who have every right to be as free from violence and discrimination as you or any other woman would love to be.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, I certainly do believe that there should be equality in there. NWAC represents, advocates for and defends the rights of the indigenous, the Métis and the Inuit. The women who are part of our membership choose who they'd like to be part of. With this, we do the best we can to advocate for them.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Certainly, thank you. First of all, I'd like to be respectfully consulted in that we would be contacted at our national office so that we would be able to have clarifications on different questions, so that we would be able to meet with our grassroots, our PTMAs. Those are the provincial and territorial members who sit on our national board.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I appreciate the question. First of all, I'd like to go back. What has taken place with the TRC, as well as the national inquiry is so important. When we look at UNDRIP and human rights and the violence that has occurred with our women, our girls and our gender-diverse, these calls to action are there, and in the process that we're going through, we need to be able to consult the grassroots people.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay. Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. Good afternoon. Kwe Kwe. Wela’lin. My name is Lorraine Whitman, Grandmother White Sea Turtle, and I am speaking to you today from Mi'kma'ki, the unceded traditional territory of the Mi'kmaq L’nu people. I would like to thank the members of this committee for asking us to appear before them to talk about Bill C-15.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, I do agree with that, but I also would like to have included the 2SLGBTQQIA+ people. As we know, we also have the two spirited in ours, but we need to be inclusive of everyone, no matter where they reside. I think it's very important that the language all be congruent and be the same in the following...and that everyone be included here and no one be left behind.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  With the indigenous culture, I haven't seen much of it happening or occurring. That's why I thank each and every one of you today for asking me to be included here, because of the educational program. We certainly need to emphasize that we are all treaty people. It was my ancestors and your ancestors who signed these treaties.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm sorry.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Wela'lin.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Wela'lin. I attended a citizenship ceremony in Wolfville two years ago. I made opening remarks and said the opening prayer. I wore the regalia. For people to be able to do the oath, education is so important, not only for new immigrants coming in but for Canadians as a whole.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Wela'lin. Thank you very much for giving me the opportunity to answer the question. We had signed an accord with the Crown in 2019, saying that we would be sitting at the tables with our other INOs so that we would be able to be included, as we do represent and we do advocate for the women and girls and our 2SLGBTQQIA+ community.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, I hadn't been included in any of that part. Just two weeks ago, as I mentioned, we were included in this conversation, which I certainly appreciate. Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Wela'lin, Chair. Good afternoon. Taluisi Lorraine Whitman, Grandmother White Sea Turtle. I am the president of the Native Women's Association of Canada, and I am speaking to you today from unceded traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq Lnu people. Kwe kwe. I would like to thank the Government of Canada, and the members of the House Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs in particular, for inviting me here today to talk about Bill C-8 and the proposal to change the oath of Canadian citizenship to recognize the rights of indigenous peoples.