[Witness spoke in Cree]
[English]
I'd like to thank the committee for inviting us to speak today about Bill C-61.
Honestly, it's very disappointing and frustrating to have to be here today. As you know, the Ermineskin Cree Nation wants an amendment to the bill to recognize first nations' right to safe drinking water. This means that all first nations people who live on reserve lands have a right to drinking water with no serious risks to human health and well-being. Nothing less will honour and uphold our treaty with Canada and respect our human rights.
This is not just a legal issue. It matters every day in the lives of real people at Ermineskin. Canada has repeatedly promised to fix first nations drinking water issues since the 1970s and has failed over and over. Canada's best efforts promised in the bill are not good enough. Our people have experienced Canada's neglect of our drinking water in their homes and daily lives for decades.
I would like Councillor Mackinaw, who has also worked on this issue for a long time, to give the committee a sense of the unsafe drinking water crisis at Ermineskin. I will then provide a short closing statement.
Sir.