I call to order this meeting of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs.
In view of the information I have with regard to our other witnesses, we'll commence the meeting. Hopefully, we'll take a moment to get them connected when they're available.
I acknowledge that we are meeting on the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin people, for those in Ottawa, and for my location, it is the Anishinabe, Haudenosaunee and Chonnonton first nations.
The committee is meeting to continue its study of support for indigenous communities through a second wave of COVID-19.
There are some best practices to tell you about. Please look down at the bottom centre of your screen, and you'll see a little globe. When you touch on that globe, you'll see “off”, “English” or “French”. At that point, you would select the language you wish to speak in and wish to hear.
When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly. When you're not speaking, your mike should be on mute. The issue of all this technology and microphones and so on is for accuracy of the interpretation. Without proper interpretation, the meeting can't legally proceed. We need everyone to be heard properly and interpreted properly.
With that, by video conference for the first hour, we have the following witnesses: Chief Bryan Mark will be joining us. From the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, we have Angeline Gillis, Janna MacKay and Amber MacLean-Hawes. Appearing as an individual, we have Professor Debbie Martin.
Welcome to everyone.
I now invite Angeline, Janna or Amber to go ahead for six minutes.