Evidence of meeting #35 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 national.
A video is available from Parliament.
12:30 p.m.
President, Indigenous Women of the Wabanaki Territories
I didn't catch the last part.
12:30 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Mr. Chair, I think it's because I said it in French, and the expression isn't exactly the same in English.
Would having an organization such as the Native Women's Association of Canada on the council ensure that a gender‑based analysis is done in the decisions and actions that are taken?
I'm not sure if that's clearer.
12:30 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
Great.
Can you expand on that and tell us what this would bring to the analysis?
12:30 p.m.
President, Indigenous Women of the Wabanaki Territories
I do think it would have good results to use the GBA.
12:30 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
So you think that the Native Women's Association of Canada could contribute in that way. I also think it could ensure that it's part of the analytical tools for decisions.
I have another question for you.
Aside from having the Native Women's Association of Canada represented on the council, would you also like to see gender parity on the council?
12:30 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
My questions are very simple, Mr. Chair, but it's easier for the committee when it's very clear.
That concludes my questions about representativeness.
For the benefit of the committee, I would like to invite Ms. Stanovich to talk to us about “reconciliaction”. Of course, we've heard all kinds of variations on the word “reconciliation”. I'd like her to tell us what she means by that term and perhaps give us some examples. I think it's about expectations. It may not be worded that way in Bill C‑29, but perhaps defining this term will allow the committee to ask other questions to find ways to implement this “reconciliaction”.
12:30 p.m.
President, Indigenous Women of the Wabanaki Territories
“Reconcili-action” is taking action on the wrongs of the past.
In my opinion, when it comes to things like child and family, you don't take children from families. You keep them and the family together at all costs.
More dollars need to go towards prevention, because we carry intergenerational wounds. It's in our DNA, so there needs to be more focus on healing and getting back to our roots. That's taking action: giving back what was stolen, giving back our language, giving back our culture and our way of life—hunting, gathering, living off the land.
The way of society today is not what's in our hearts and our DNA, so it takes us off balance. Even when you think of time, there are 13 moons, not 12 months. The moon doesn't lie, nor does the turtle's back, where there are 28 days and 13 moons. That takes us off the heartbeat of the earth. That's reconcili-action: getting back to the land and getting back that relationship.
When we were colonized, the laws of the land and the people were ignored, and that's why society is so off balance. “Reconcili-action” is getting back to what we once had.
12:35 p.m.
Bloc
Marilène Gill Bloc Manicouagan, QC
If I understand correctly, Ms. Stanovich, you want the council to be more than symbolic. You want concrete action that leads to change, rather than just words and good faith.
Do I have that right?
12:35 p.m.
Bloc
12:35 p.m.
Liberal
12:35 p.m.
NDP
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
Thank you, everyone, for your presentations. What you have presented is very important, so I am listening very carefully.
Ms. Brandy Stanovich, I agree with you 100%. Since we have our own women's organization, I will be in full support of your endeavour there.
I have a question for Ms. Jacqueline Prosper. I want you to know that I am proud of you. The Mi'k.... I cannot really pronounce it, so I'll just refer to it as MK., I have heard of you and I am proud of you.
When I was studying law here at the University of Ottawa, I wrote a paper on how education is better implemented when it comes from the roots of the land, from the roots of our people, because it is said that those who use their roots as a base for education produce more educated pupils.
How do you plan to implement these recommendations?
[English]
12:35 p.m.
Lead, Treaty Education, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
I'm sorry, but I only heard my name. I didn't get any translation, but I can see Celeste nodding. Did it go to you? I'm not sure if you can answer.
12:35 p.m.
NDP
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
The question was, how do you plan on implementing these recommendations? How effective do you think that these recommendations will be? What impact will these recommendations have on the educational process of our youths? Thank you.
[English]
I'll ask the question.
I've heard of MK, Mi’kmaw Kina’matnewey. I heard of the organization when I was in law school at the University of Ottawa.
I did a paper on a comparison between education through indigenous-led organizations like MK and a government organization, a governing body, and used the Government of Nunavut as an example.
In my comparison, I found that MK had great success. You had higher graduation rates. You had many better results than a public education system for our first nations graduates. I think that you are such an important example that more Canadians need to learn from.
Having said that, I want to uplift the great work that you do, and wonder if you have any recommendations for ensuring that this national board will have the same success in educating more people about the importance of reconciliation and using an indigenous lens to educate our populations.
Qujannamiik.
12:40 p.m.
Lead, Treaty Education, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
I think that occupying seats on a board, as such, would be important in being able to share best practices and knowledge about the journey and being able to provide that support to have a richer education for students, absolutely.
12:40 p.m.
The Clerk
Mr. Chair, could I just interrupt and recommend that all the witnesses make sure they have the interpretation channel selected. That would be great.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Yes, that's a good point.
If any of the witnesses are not sure about how to choose the interpretation, please let the clerk know so that we can show you how to do it.
In the meantime, I've stopped the clock.
Madam Idlout, you still have two minutes.
October 24th, 2022 / 12:40 p.m.
The Clerk
Ms. Prosper just had her hand up for the interpretation channel.
12:40 p.m.
Liberal
The Chair Liberal Marc Garneau
Okay. We'll stop and wait until somebody shows her how to do the interpretation.
In actual fact, if you look at the bottom of your screen, you'll see a small globe. It says “interpretation”. Hit that; then hit whatever language you want to hear it in. If it's English, hit the “English” button. Then the translation will be provided to you.
Is that okay?
I see your head nodding.
With that, let's go for two minutes.
12:40 p.m.
NDP
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
Thank you. I have a question for Jacqueline.
In the studies that you took, can you tell us how you proceed after you do your studies? Thank you.
[English]
12:40 p.m.
Lead, Treaty Education, Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey
My work with Mi'kmaw Kina'matnewey is primarily with treaty education. There are individuals within the organization, if you reach out to them, who would be better to answer that question. Blaire Gould, the executive director, would be the one to reach out to. She can direct any of your questions where necessary.
12:40 p.m.
NDP
Lori Idlout NDP Nunavut, NU
[Member spoke in Inuktitut, interpreted as follows:]
Thank you. I will now ask a question to Garry Bailey.
We as indigenous people had our own loss. In regard to Bill C-29, have you given any thought as to how we can revitalize those laws that existed before contact? Thank you.
[English]
12:40 p.m.
President, Northwest Territory Métis Nation
Thank you.
We have given thought to it. The right to self-determination, self-government, is the venue we're using for that. The biggest thing is getting out to our people and talking with our people and getting a grasp of all the past on how things used to be. That's the track that we have to go down in order to get back to those old ways.
I think it's very important to be doing that. As you know, here in the Northwest Territories we've been getting some on-the-land programs and stuff like that, healing programs that have really benefited our people when it comes to staying on the right side of the law, say, or dealing with their addictions and so on. I think it's very important to get back to those ways and not look at the government system. They just pretty well put you in a cell and feed you and kick you out. They don't really deal with any issues, so yes, we're definitely looking into that venue.