I don't actually know the details of what you're talking about. I do know you're talking about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission findings and whatnot. When that first came out, I was part of the chief and council of Haisla and I didn't read that fully, because I was living the issues that I just talked about. I live on reserve. I still live on reserve today. When you're talking about violence, alcoholism, drug abuse, unemployment and poverty and you live those and you want to change those, then these reports don't mean much.
I don't know anybody in my circle who has read that report. In fact, I think today I'm still the only first nation member of my community who has read the Indian Act. I didn't understand it. I think I'm still one of only two people who have read as much on case law principles as possible to try to define rights and title, because I was just trying to find a way to address social ills. This is part of the frustration I have in terms of these kinds of talks going on all across Canada: Nobody talks about what we're trying to achieve.
It just seems like a high-level discussion on how to make us feel good about something when first nations people are still committing suicide. They are getting hooked on fentanyl and crystal meth. They're on the streets. There is no real authority to address all the people who are living off reserve in our urban centres.
Now, with the ability that my band has and their own choice, we say that we will help anybody on our band list, no matter where they live in the world. We're going to help them with drug addiction issues. We're going to help them with bus passes. We're going to help them with recreation. We're going to help them with travel, and—guess what—Ottawa can't say anything about it, because this is all our own money. It's not mandated by Indian Act funding agreements.