Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Sept. 16th, 2024

Evidence of meeting #117 for Indigenous and Northern Affairs in the 44th Parliament, 1st Session. (The original version is on Parliament’s site, as are the minutes.) The winning word was important.

A video is available from Parliament.

On the agenda

Bill C-61

Passing of Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs Grand Chief Cathy Merrick

Committee Business

MPs speaking

Also speaking

John Paul Executive Director, Atlantic Policy Congress of First Nations Chiefs Secretariat

David Pratt First Vice-Chief, Federation of Sovereign Indigenous Nations

Emily Whetung-MacInnes Chief Emerita, First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water

John Brown Executive Director, First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water

5:15 p.m.

NDP

Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU

Just to clarify, that's not what I was asking.

What I hope to see in the amendments is that when first nations do get their jurisdiction back.... First nations' jurisdiction over water was stolen from them through colonization, so taking it back is such an important process of reconciliation.

I'll ask the question this way: When you read the legislation the way it is, do you have any concerns regarding jurisdiction that it would make it difficult for first nations to exercise their jurisdiction?

5:15 p.m.

Chief Emerita, First Nations Advisory Committee on Safe Drinking Water

Emily Whetung-MacInnes

I think that it is always difficult, historically, for first nations to exercise their jurisdiction, but I think this starts to give some of that back to first nations, whereby we can create our own bylaws about water and access to water in our communities.

It's certainly by no means perfect, but it is definitely a starting point in that direction.

5:20 p.m.

Liberal

The Chair Liberal Patrick Weiler

Thank you very much, Ms. Idlout.

I want to thank all of our witnesses for joining the committee today in person and by video conference. Your testimony has absolutely enriched our study of this. I want to thank you very much for making the time today and also for being flexible as we're working through a number of things in our committee.

With that, we are going to suspend briefly and return in camera. I'd like to excuse the witnesses today.

[Proceedings continue in camera]