Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you very much, everyone, for appearing today. Thank you for your very considered submissions.
Based on the testimony of the three panellists, there appears to be a contradiction, that on one side it is not the role of the federal government or anyone else outside each community to define what membership is and who ought to be a band member; and on the other side, we're almost forced to deal with a piece of legislation and amendments to it because the Indian Act is discriminatory on many levels, as Madame Michel has outlined eloquently, but particularly with respect to sex-based discrimination.
How do we resolve that contradiction, and how do we make sure that this legislation responds to the court decision in Descheneaux, but at the same time, ensures that there is a path towards individual communities making the decision with respect to band membership?
I'll start with Chief Picard and Chief Norton, and then to Dr. Gehl.