I'll keep it short.
Absolutely. It is a reality. Our first nation has been on the river here—Metepenagiag, Natoaganeg, Esgenoopetitj—for over 5,000 years. We've always shared. It's really bothersome that we aren't extended that same courtesy. It seems that we have to continue to fight the battle for equity, for access, to be able to look after our....
I know this is off topic, but we've been talking with the Premier of New Brunswick about the need for an inquiry into the justice system. Nova Scotia had the Donald Marshall inquiry. Our reality is that many of our people, because of their poverty, are making bad choices in regard to how they survive. They are prosecuted for that and they cannot afford legal. We are putting forward a number of things with the Province of New Brunswick to address that racism in the justice system, that systemic racism, that exclusion and marginalization.
A number of our people will reach out. They will try to work outside. Many times they will come back with stories like, “Geez, I just wanted to work. I got told to go back to the reserve. They asked me what I was doing trying to take a job away from one of their family members.” I mean, that's a real struggle. That is a constant reality for many of our people. That hurts. I feel really bad for our young people, who aren't willing to take the chance and challenge this really bad behaviour.
I'll leave it at that and let Chief Bernard in.