Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The question that I answered was specific to what we could accept right now, as is, which is to remove that because the due diligence has not been done. I directly answered that question. I didn't say anything about the Supreme Court of Canada. I also said that we can use the Powley test, but the MNO isn't currently using Powley in its own criteria of determining who is a citizen.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You know, I think the Powley test was through a colonial process. We're not denying what was said. That doesn't negate our beliefs and our knowledge of our territories. My community, at least—I can't speak for every community in Ontario—was not consulted in the Powley case. We had no way of contributing to or arguing that.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You're getting into semantics by asking us those questions. Those questions should have been asked in a forum we can actually participate in. We already know the impacts of what is happening on the ground in our territories with regard to this illegitimate recognition. The fact that the entire legislation recognizes them as able to govern in our territories is problematic.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We certainly could use Powley as a road map, but the MNO is not even using the Powley test in their criteria for their membership. Let's take the time to look at the Powley criteria and see if they match the MNO criteria.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Remove MNO.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I believe it's both. Looking for recognition will then lead to those other things down the road that will impact us, but it also impacts us now—giving them recognition—because they're already asserting those things. It's not about the future. This is happening now. They're getting money from the province for education.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We've always maintained that we believe Métis people in Canada.... We acknowledge their history and the fact that they have rights in their territories. We are saying that. However, we are also saying that they weren't in our territory. That is, we can't speak on behalf of the Manitoba nations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Meegwetch. Thank you for that question. What we want is to be able to take the time to look at the facts and the evidence to actually determine whom we are actually speaking to. Currently, this whole approach has been “recognize first and verify later”. What we are saying is that we want to be at the table to look at whom exactly we're speaking to when we talk about this legislation, because from our standpoint, there's a facade of whom these people represent.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm sorry for being so eager, but I'm the only community chief here. These guys are leaders of the political territorial organizations, and they work for us. To answer your question, yes, Nipissing is currently under the Anishinabe nation governance agreement, which was signed between Canada and our first nations and territories—five first nations, three more in the queue, and more coming.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. As far as the impacts that are happening currently are concerned, the minister keeps telling us it's not going to impact us. But it already is. Some of those can be found as recently as several months ago. We have the MNO releasing information that they have $4.5 million for social housing in Sault Ste.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay. I didn't see the yellow card.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Anyway, in her report, she says that indigenous identity fraud causes harm. This is uncontested. She also goes on to say, “Self-declared organizations are appearing almost daily. Their existence does not, by itself, provide proof of community or Indigenous identity.” This is what we are saying.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  [Witness spoke in Anishinaabemowin and provided the following text:] Aanin kina wiya. Zoongaabwi ndizhnikaaz. Nbiising ndoonjibaa. Shagi ndoodem. [Witness provided the following translation:] Hello, everyone. Zoongabwi is my name. Nipissing First Nation is where I’m from. I am Crane clan.