Evidence of meeting #35 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 42nd Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was status.
A video is available from Parliament.
5:20 p.m.
Chief, Abénakis Band Council of Odanak
If they met with individual people, that defeats the purpose, doesn't it?
5:20 p.m.
Chief, Abénakis Band Council of Odanak
They can tell me that person said anything.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
You said you met with a group of chiefs, recently.
5:20 p.m.
Chief, Abénakis Band Council of Odanak
No, when we had the chiefs assembly, the Quebec chiefs came. We made it very clear, and they made it clear, that it was not a consultation. It was strictly for information to say what they thought or where they were at.
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Okay, so that was the assembly of chiefs meeting—
5:20 p.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
They didn't organize it. You organized it, and they showed up.
5:20 p.m.
Chief, Abénakis Band Council of Odanak
They called us and asked if they could come and have a few minutes to explain what they were doing and where they were going, and to see if we had questions. We had asked them several questions. We got the same answer that you guys got, which was, “We'll get back to you.” We've never heard anything back yet. That was at the time when we explained to them that.... I made it clear to her that they never consulted us, and they never asked us anything. Now they're telling me that they have this February deadline that they have to live up to, and there's nothing they can do about it. I suggested at the time that they ask the court for an extension, so we could close all the files, instead of closing one, going back to court, and then doing it again. As of Friday, she told me that they were not asking for an extension. I find that very strange, because I made it very clear that if they didn't ask for an extension and if we didn't solve all these problems, then we were going to be right back in court again. She said that was fine.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
This meeting that you had was, in your opinion, the first date, and they thought you got married.
5:25 p.m.
Chief, Abénakis Band Council of Odanak
That was the very first tip. Exactly, you got it.
5:25 p.m.
Conservative
Arnold Viersen Conservative Peace River—Westlock, AB
Interesting.
I don't really have any more questions, Chair, so I'll cede the floor.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Andy Fillmore
Thank you very much. I much appreciate that.
Well, that brings this panel to a close.
Gary did you want to say something?
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Andy Fillmore
Great. Thank you.
Let me just say thank you. I appreciate your testimony very much, as does the committee as a whole. We have two minutes of committee business to do while you pack up.
5:25 p.m.
Chief, Abénakis Band Council of Odanak
I would like to thank you all for having us come here today. Thank you very much.
5:25 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Andy Fillmore
We are in a situation where we're inviting witnesses and paying for them; we have more coming in the weeks ahead, and we need to pass a budget. That budget has been passed around.
Gary, put a motion to approve the budget, as presented.
