Thank you, Mr. Chair, and thank you to the presenters today. I appreciate the information that you're sharing with us.
I belong to the Deh Cho First Nations, which represent both the Dene and the Métis in the region I live in. We've been trying to sort out land tenure and self-governance since the 1970s. It's still a challenge. It seems like a lot of times we're not talking the same language.
When we talk about land, we talk about large tracts of land where moose and caribou can roam freely and can survive. There's enough food, trees, plants and everything else, so we can also continue to practise a sustainable way of life. We need our waters clean and pure so the fish can survive.
When we talk about land here in Ottawa, people have a tendency to say, “How many properties do you need? How much is it worth anyway?” It's difficult and really challenging, because, as I said, sometimes we're looking at the same thing but it's interpreted differently.
I hear fairly constantly about some of the policies that are still in place that are very colonial. We've entered an era of reconciliation, and a lot of things are being discussed. A lot of things are moving forward, but there are still certain policies that are very dated. The comprehensive claims policy is one I hear about the most. It stops and slows down negotiations because of the cede and surrender clause.
I wonder if all of you can provide your comments on some of these policies, especially the comprehensive claim policy. Does it need to be replaced, in the spirit of reconciliation?
Let's start with that.