I'm holding myself back because the way you explained it is offensive. It is degrading and colonialistic. It does not support first nations, Métis and Inuit people across Canada. I'm sorry, but with all due respect, the government is showing that it is continuing with the practices of colonialism through the way you just explained it.
You're asking me, a full-blooded Dene, who speaks Dene, to be open to someone who is a non-indigenous speaker. That is colonialistic. That is offensive. With all due respect, this is a very sensitive issue to me, to my family, to my cultural group, to Saskatchewan and to all of Canada.
The government sits here and explains it offensively. That is hurtful. That is disrespectful. That is unacceptable. First nations, Métis and Inuit people across Canada are going to read about what was just said, and it will be all across Canada, and I won't encourage the indigenous speakers, those who work really hard every day to teach the languages, to sit back and be open to the commissioner being a non-indigenous person—that is essentially what I'm hearing—and leading us.
Idle no more—indigenous people across Canada have been telling us that has to change. Sunny ways.... The government proposed that we do this differently, and now you're telling us that there is no other way than to continue with colonialism.