Evidence of meeting #148 for Canadian Heritage in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was language.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
I don't mean between the UN declaration and the TRC report; I'm talking about those two documents vis-à-vis Bill C-91.
5:10 p.m.
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
The TRC report calls to action and the UN declaration on the one hand, and Bill C-91 on the other hand. Are there any incompatibilities that you see there?
5:10 p.m.
Grand Chief, As an Individual
Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild
I'll still say they're compatible, because one supports the other. By that I mean that the UN declaration supports Bill C-91, and so do the TRC calls to action support or actually respond to the TRC calls.
I'm criticized sometimes for saying this, but it's like a braid of sweetgrass. There are three strands in a braid of sweetgrass. One is the UN declaration. One is the TRC report calls to action, and now we have Bill C-91. They're actually a braid, the same braid.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
5:15 p.m.
Grand Chief, As an Individual
Grand Chief Wilton Littlechild
That's what I mean by the UN declaration. It's Bill C-262. They're complementary; they support each other. There isn't a contradiction—in my estimation, anyway.
5:15 p.m.
NDP
Romeo Saganash NDP Abitibi—Baie-James—Nunavik—Eeyou, QC
Thank you.
Grand Chief Bosum, I'm always happy to see you.
There are a lot of omissions and things that can be improved in this bill. I mentioned those in my speech when this bill was introduced. I spoke 10 minutes in Cree and 10 minutes in English.
One of the things that I mentioned in my speech was clause 6. Clause 6 says that the Government of Canada recognizes the rights of indigenous peoples as recognized and affirmed by section 35. That is the only source in Bill C-91 for indigenous language rights.
Do you think—and this was mentioned by Chief Antoine—that there could be additions to this clause to mention the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples and treaty rights as well, according to the Cree Nation Government?
5:15 p.m.
Grand Chief, Cree Nation Government
Yes, I think the more you can add and make reference to all the efforts that have been made, whether internationally or in Canada....
I would also support the point that Grand Chief Littlechild made about the treaties.
In our case, we signed a treaty back in 1975. In the first 20 years, we had problems implementing it, because we were expecting Canada to implement it, and it didn't happen. It led to about 30 court cases. It wasn't done until after we renewed that agreement.
Since then, we've taken over. We've assumed the responsibility of implementing our treaty, and I think this is something we would look forward to if this bill gets passed and resources are made available to do it.
5:15 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Julie Dabrusin
That's the end of your time period as well.
This has been our final panel on Bill C-91. I want to thank all of you for your contributions. Today we've had a lot of really helpful testimony as we wrap up our study of the bill.
Thank you very much.
The meeting is adjourned.