Evidence of meeting #79 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 claim.
A recording is available from Parliament.
Assistant Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
You are talking about the tribunal now.
Assistant Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
TARR Manitoba doesn't have a mandate to participate in the tribunal process. All we have is the information that we get from the tribunal on an annual basis, which gives an update on the status of it.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Do you have any suggestions based on your stakeholders' experience?
Assistant Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
We do have a few first nations in Manitoba that have claims at the tribunal level, and apparently it's a very long and costly process.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
When you say that the crown is currently judge and jury, what do you mean?
Assistant Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
I am talking about the specific claims process. The specific claims branch of INAC is where we submit the claims, and they in turn will do their own internal research and act as judge and jury against themselves.
Liberal
Gary Anandasangaree Liberal Scarborough—Rouge Park, ON
Thank you.
I'd like to pass the rest of my time to Ms. Zahid.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Thank you, Chair.
Thank you to both of you for joining us today.
I would like to ask you about community engagement and education within the indigenous communities. What level of knowledge and engagement are you seeing within the indigenous communities in Manitoba, as far as the land claims process is concerned?
Assistant Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
What kind of community involvement...?
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Yes, what do you think about the community engagement and education they have?
Assistant Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
I don't think there is enough engagement. We do have an organization in Manitoba called the Treaty Relations Commission, and one of their mandates is to inform not only the public but also the native population, the bands in Manitoba, on the treaty relationship within Canada.
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
Do you have some recommendations on how we can engage the community, as far as the land claims process is concerned?
Assistant Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
I think that when a specific band has a claim, whether it's at the specific claims level at the branch or at the tribunal level, those departments should come to the communities and engage with them directly so they have more focus on what they are dealing with.
Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
Perhaps at the consultation level....
Assistant Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
Does that answer your question?
Liberal
Salma Zahid Liberal Scarborough Centre, ON
To some extent.
I'll go on to my next question. We have heard a lot about the specific and the comprehensive claims in the committee. Would you be able to elaborate on your personal experience? What are some of the delays or issues being faced with these claims? Are there any remedies you have to suggest to make it better?
Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
It's funding.
Assistant Director, Treaty and Aboriginal Rights Research Centre of Manitoba
Again, it's the funding issue.
As for other recommendations, I don't have much time, but we also have an issue with the Dakota bands in Manitoba. As we said, they are not party to treaty, and we are still trying to find a way for the government to recognize their having aboriginal rights to the territory.
In Manitoba, it's a little different than in other provinces, like B.C., that are not party to treaty. We are party to treaty, except for the Dakota, and the government has not yet been able to recognize that this is their traditional territory.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal MaryAnn Mihychuk
All right. We have found one of our presenters.
Is it the will of the committee to proceed with questioning, or would you like to allocate 10 minutes to the presenter? I am looking for a recommendation. Either could happen. It depends on how the committee wishes to move.
MP McLeod, go ahead.
Conservative
Cathy McLeod Conservative Kamloops—Thompson—Cariboo, BC
Madam Chair, I think we will have time to do a first round, so I would like to hear from the presenter. I think he brings some knowledge to the table, which will help in terms of our questioning.