Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I didn't hear the last part of the question.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm not quite sure how I would answer that question, but I just want to say that if they're considering establishing a self-government agreement with the Métis and MNO.... We have a process we call the [Inaudible—Editor]—that's self-government on our own territory. We had discussions that were not terminated but suspended over 20 years ago.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I guess I have to say that it must not pass. If it becomes legislation, it allows the government to recognize the claim of the Métis groups as having constitutional rights within our homelands, without having to first establish the existence of a distinct, historic Métis community there and without involving us.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't really have anything against half-breeds or Métis. What I have difficulty understanding would be why we are being left out of these discussions. It seems to be that both levels of government are enabling the Métis moving forward with signing these agreements behind our backs without our consultation and stuff like that.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think so, yes. We have the adhesion that was signed in 1875, which came about because prior to the signing by the Grand Council Treaty No. 3, there were actual mixed-blood Anishinabe people living among us, and they were part of the communities. Then, after our treaty was signed, one of our chiefs asked them to become members of the community, and that's what happened.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Meegwetch for the question. There's no clear historic evidence that there was a separate Métis nation in Manito Aki. That's Grand Council Treaty No. 3. We have never known a historic and separate Métis community within Manito Aki. We have never consented to the establishment of their narrative in the 1875 adhesion.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We've asked why we haven't been involved in these discussions. Back in 2017, when former premier Wynne signed an agreement with the Métis, our chiefs directed me to write a letter to Canada requesting that we be involved in these discussions, but they never occurred. Over the last several years, we've often said that we should be at these tables when they're talking about acquiring rights in our territory.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There is no historic evidence of ever having Métis communities in our territory. Even the half-breed adhesion does not mention Métis in the adhesion. Meegwetch.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  [Witness spoke in Anishinaabemowin] [English] Good afternoon, members of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. My name is Francis Kavanaugh. I am from Naotkamegwanning First Nation, and I am the ogichidaa or grand chief of Grand Council Treaty No. 3. I am honoured to be appearing before you today to raise concerns of the Anishinabe nation in Treaty No. 3 regarding Bill C-53.