I think it's a question of recognizing that the ultimate decision-makers in the discussion are at the community level. Being decision-makers, they vet their decision-making through their elected chief and council.
Now, I will say that as an organization the Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs can put a lot of resources towards a review of a draft piece of legislation. It can balance draft legislation with the mandates that are established through the constitution of the organization. I think with a very thorough understanding of sovereignty, inherent rights and treaty rights, of the Constitution and of aboriginal rights jurisprudence that has developed over the last 30 years, we can come out with a very informed perspective as to what we're viewing coming out of the legislative offices here.
When you engage a community chief, there is the potential that the chief may not have an expert legal analysis provided to him before he comes to sit before you. I only suggest that because I know, as a former chief of my community, the 3,500-strong Anishinabe people from the Minegozhiibe territory in west central Manitoba,that oftentimes I'm dealing with one crisis right after another, to the point that my ability to put my mind to a task at hand, such as reviewing legislation written in the English or French language, is not there. I'm not saying I don't want to, but I'm saying that different capacities are brought to the table, depending on what position a person sits in within our political infrastructure.