First of all, I want all of you to behave in this committee. I am the witness, and I would like to answer the question.
Now, the question is about indigenous identity.
I'm going to switch to French.
Identity fraud is a problem for us, especially when it is committed by a member of Parliament. I do not know parliamentary procedure, but the case I am thinking of is that of a member of the Liberal Party, a former minister who claimed to be indigenous, a false identity he said was based on the history of his ancestors. That is a problem for us. Abenaki people have been fighting identity fraud for more than 20 years. We see people who self-identify as indigenous to advance their careers, whether in politics or in the business world. They benefit because no one can validate or verify their claims. This is a phenomenon we are seeing more and more. At one time, my nation was affected by this phenomenon. In fact, one of Justin Trudeau's advisors, Suzie Kies, claimed to be Abenaki from my nation in Odanak. It was problematic, because she is not.
We are the sole protectors of our nation, culture and heritage, and we know who our members and descendants are, as do all communities across Canada. When someone self-identifies as indigenous, it becomes problematic, because it violates our rights. As indigenous people, we are subject to the Indian Act, which gives us a number and guides us in a fixed system.