Evidence of meeting #10 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 41st Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was forward.

A recording is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

MPs speaking

Also speaking

Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo  National Chief, Assembly of First Nations
Jody Wilson-Raybould  Regional Chief, British Columbia, Assembly of First Nations
Jennifer Brennan  Senior Strategist, Assembly of First Nations

12:10 p.m.

National Chief, Assembly of First Nations

National Chief Shawn A-in-chut Atleo

Thank you.

I think wherever first nations are agreeing to and driving those initiatives and those agreements, they are most welcome.

There are outstanding issues of the relationships. Jordan's Principle was mentioned earlier, recalling a child who in fact died because of the lack of clarity about how the jurisdictions are going to--and should be--working together and supporting one another.

I begin, though, again by going back to the original point; that the principal relationship is one, firstly, between first nations and the crown. That's the reason for pursuing a first nations-crown gathering: to have a meeting with the federal government and to reset the relationship there.

The second point, and maybe the next step, would be then to consider the relationship among first nations, the crown, and provincial and/or territorial governments, but only as driven by first nations. What first nations are not welcoming of is the imposition of an approach. That includes the imposition of tripartite arrangements. Those areas in which first nations are choosing, though, we can see quite clearly in the examples you've described.

Great progress has been made, and it allows for the opportunity to address what the relationship is between the different jurisdictions. The principal relationship between first nations is with the crown on the education piece; we need to work that out. But then the next step would be what the relationship is between a provincial education system and.... It may not be a tripartite arrangement, but wouldn't any of us want to make sure that our children, if we choose to leave jurisdictions, would have equitable support for their education success if they were to move between a provincial and a first nations school?

Those are the sorts of practical issues that need to be worked out. But my interest is to reflect the fact that there is a basic foundational first nations-federal crown relationship that we need to address. Then the next step is to look to the first nations for instructions about how they see the next piece of this being worked out.

It's not to suggest that one size fits all or that only a single tripartite model should be implemented and/or imposed, but to suggest that we should be open to the idea that we first reset the first nations-federal crown relationship, and then ask the question about what the relationship is across the whole policy spectrum. In every area we can then ask what the relationship piece is that needs to be addressed with the provincial level as well.

12:10 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Was there a final comment there, Ms. Brennan?

12:15 p.m.

Jennifer Brennan Senior Strategist, Assembly of First Nations

No.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Okay. I wasn't sure if you were signalling to me.

National Chief and Regional Chief, thank you so much for being here.

Ms. Brennan, thank you so much for coming.

We know it will be a regular occurrence that we'll be inviting you to come before us. We appreciate the fact that you made time to come and join us for this initial discussion as our committee works to undertake its work plan. We will, I'm sure, ask you to come back again. Thanks again. We look forward to seeing you again.

12:15 p.m.

A voice

Thank you.

12:15 p.m.

Conservative

The Chair Conservative Chris Warkentin

Committee members, we will suspend and then go in camera in about five minutes or so. I just want to give members time to meet with the national chief.

[Proceedings continue in camera]