I believe there are some departments under this federal government that approach reconciliation much more efficiently and genuinely than others, and there are some great practices. I will make mention of ADM Keith Conn and his department as an example of asking what the priorities should be from the community and not coming in, and telling, and rolling out programs through the eyes or lens of the government. They are truly seeking feedback and doing the consultation and hard work, no matter how hard that seems, to ensure that they have the understanding and the blessing of the rights holders that these programs will often impact.
When I'm speaking to the regional offices and folks who have the decision-making authority, I often ask, “Who has been to my community of Couchiching First Nation?” More often than not, there are no hands that go up. My plea to them is, “Please understand, when you are making decisions in your position, you are impacting my family and my community without having known,” and that is still a paternalistic approach that has not necessarily been given the blessing of our community. That consultation piece is absolutely critical to the success of reconciliation in this country.