Thank you, Chairman.
First of all, I would like to thank the committee for providing time for the Stoney Nakoda Nations to make the presentation and make issues known.
This month is a very significant month in first nation history. This was the month, 40 years ago, that we first delivered the red paper in Ottawa, and I think it's quite poignant that we're still here 40 years later debating and dealing with a lot of these issues.
I make observation that we are concerned with our rights and we are concerned with the impact on our interests of these changes, and therefore it's critical that we understand each of these scenarios as they come forward. As you have indicated, Mr. Russell, we have a number of issues that are outstanding, and this is one of the reasons we need to look at this so carefully. There are trust and fiduciary issues that are ongoing. I don't think we have a problem with a fundamental trust and fiduciary relationship. We'd like to see that strengthened, if anything else.
The conundrum we find ourselves in is how do you as an institution—I'm throwing the question out there—regulate yet provide a trust or fiduciary responsibility? Those are two different things, and we've always had that discussion with the crown. You're either one or the other, and to do both is difficult at the best of times.
So I think we find ourselves in a variety of these conundrums, as you would say, and therefore we need to have careful consideration. I also would like to ask the legal counsel for some comment on that, because I think it would be appropriate at this time.
Doug Rae, I'd like to ask you to comment on that as well.