[Member spoke in Mi'kmaq as follows:]
Welaliig tan teli elnoisoltiog me Gato oelsetelog.
[Mi'kmaq text translated as follows:]
Thank you for speaking your language; I really appreciate hearing it.
[English]
I just want to thank you all for opening up with your indigenous languages. As a Mi'kmaq language speaker, it's always great for me to hear other languages.
I also want to thank you for your continued advocacy in speaking of UNDRIP. Many of you may know that my father was part of the initial UN indigenous working group that drafted UNDRIP.
I'm going to ask two questions. I'm going to open it up to the floor, because you probably all have recommendations on this.
Do you think that implementing UNDRIP is a good first start in achieving reconciliation and a recommendation for this committee to look at?
Second, in 2017, the Liberal government announced $25 million over four years to support the indigenous guardians pilot program, and with it sunsetting in 2021, I'm wondering if you think that it has been effective. Do you believe that when indigenous nations are able to co-manage the resources, that is one of the best practices?
I'll leave that open for you guys to answer, with short answers if you could, so that I can hear from everyone.