Thanks very much, Mr. Chairman, and welcome to the witnesses. Thank you very much for taking the time to come here and share your considerable wisdom on the matters before us.
Chief Atleo, I want to go to you first.
I'm from Nova Scotia; I'm from the other coast. When I was thinking about this and looking at the changes to the Fisheries Act, I was wondering how I was going to understand what's going on. I picked up the phone and called somebody I think you know—Charlie Dennis, an advisor and a former chief. He is somebody who set up the Unama'ki Institute in Eskasoni. That's an organization that was formed by the five bands on Cape Breton Island for the sole purpose of looking out for the natural resources, in particular the Bras d'Or Lakes.
He told me they hadn't been consulted. He sent me a letter, and he said that the accepted observation of Mi'kmaq elders is that there are no healthy organisms without healthy habitat. He went on to say that on several occasions, the first line of involvement for the institute on an issue or development in the watershed is via an environmental assessment. He said to me that our responsibility for protecting that ecosystem of the Bras d'Or Lakes is going to be greatly hampered by what is proposed in these changes.
This is a man I have so much respect for. He has been a leader in this area, and his wisdom has not been brought to the fore.
I wonder if you would comment on the role the Mi'kmaq played in protecting and trying to improve the natural resources in Nova Scotia and in my home town.