I appreciate the intervention because it gave my crack staff.... Actually it's Craig Scott's crack staff, a former staffer of mine. She went on to bigger and better things. What she was able to remind me is that the Assembly of First Nations have said publicly that they “agree that the committee should travel—that democracy exists and is exercised where people live, not in secure rooms on parliament hill.”So we're hearing from Canadians, leaders of Canadians, who are saying, “Come to our communities”.
Why should we listen to this voice? Chief Atleo was re-elected in July 2012 to a second consecutive three-year mandate as national chief of the Assembly of First Nations. I think if I'm going to read a quote and ask for it to have impact then it makes sense that I would give the credentials of the person, who also happens to be somebody we've asked to appear. And I would answer Mr. Reid, if I can. I didn't say that Chief Atleo would be heard only somewhere outside of Ottawa. Those are two different points, and they are two different points in my motion. One speaks to travel, and the other one speaks to witnesses. I don't know how I could possibly be more germane to the point than in talking about who those witnesses might be.
Remember, Chair, notwithstanding that this has gone on for quite a while, and will go on for quite a while yet, these are still relevant points if a member wants to make them, and I do.
Previously Chief Atleo served two terms as the regional chief of the British Columbia Assembly of First Nations. In 2008 Chief Atleo's commitment to education was recognized in his appointment as chancellor of Vancouver Island University, becoming British Columbia's first indigenous chancellor.