Thank you for sharing your perspective, MP Idlout.
With regard to your comment around shame, it will be all of our shame if we don't transform how we do things in this country. That's what this bill is attempting to do: to transform how we create legislation that deeply affects first nations people and to transform how we have relationships that are open, inclusive and evolving to include first nations voices.
That is work that I am proud to do, actually. I am proud to do this work. It's difficult work, especially when you represent a system of colonialism that has oppressed indigenous voices for so long, yet it's such important work.
I thank all colleagues for having these important conversations with first nations partners, because you are hearing the reflection of that difficult relationship in the ways that people are expressing themselves to this committee.
With regard to engagement, a number of people have said that in fact they felt fully engaged, that the engagement was more than the kinds of engagement they've ever had in the past. This includes, for example, Chief Crowfoot from Siksika, who said, “For the first time ever, we had opportunities to review and comment on draft legislation.” He said also, “Although we had to fight hard, Canada responded with critically important changes to the bill.”
Don't forget that the bill you're studying is dramatically different—