[Witness speaks in his native language]
Thank you and good day, Mr. Chair.
I would echo the words of Chief Labelle in expressing our thanks for your inviting us here today.
I wish to say a few words about Canada's trust and fiduciary obligations to our first nations.
We do not object, in principle, to federal laws incorporating some of Alberta's oil and gas laws. However, Alberta's laws were not designed to address first nations issues, nor does the Government of Alberta feel it is its responsibility to assume Canada's trust and fiduciary obligations towards the Stoney Nakoda Nation.
To attempt to simply adopt Alberta's law with nothing further would therefore result in the abdication of Canada's obligations to us. We have therefore proposed an amendment that would insure that these obligations of Her Majesty continue.
I would like to read our proposed amendment:
4.2(8) In respect of an act or omission occurring in the exercise of a power or the performance of a duty by a provincial official or body under laws of a province that are incorporated by the regulations, the Minister's fiduciary and trust obligations to First Nations will continue as though the Minister has exercised a like power or performed a like duty.
I would ask you to give serious consideration to this proposed amendment.
Thank you for taking the time to hear me today.
Chief Bearspaw, the only one of us who does not have a French-Canadian last name, wishes to say a few words.
Thank you.