Good afternoon, colleagues. I call this meeting to order.
Welcome to the 77th meeting of the Standing Committee on Indigenous and Northern Affairs. We acknowledge that we're meeting on the unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.
Pursuant to the Standing Orders, our meeting today is in a hybrid fashion. We have both witnesses and members joining us online for the first hour. After the first hour, we're going in camera, so there's a new log-in link for our members who will be joining us for the second hour.
Mr. Augustine, you have on your screen the choice of language—floor, which is the language being used, English or French—if you want to select that now. For everybody else, there is interpretation on the headsets here if you need it.
When speaking—again, Mr. Augustine, this applies to you—you'll have to mute and unmute yourself. For anybody in the room, we'll look after that for you, so you don't have to worry about pushing any buttons if you are here in the room with us.
When speaking, please speak slowly and clearly. When you are not speaking, please make sure you mute yourself.
Now that we're in session, there are no photos or screenshots allowed.
With us today, we have three representatives. In the room with us, we have Adam Munnings, legal counsel of the Semiahmoo First Nation. He's from my home area. I live and work on the traditional territories of the Semiahmoo, Katzie, Kwantlen and Matsqui first nations. We have Chief Stephen Augustine of the Mi'kmaq Grand Council. Also in the room, we have Graham Marshall, Membertou councillor of the Membertou First Nation.
Welcome to the three of you.
We're going to give you each five minutes for opening statements. I have a handy card system here. When I give the yellow card, there are 30 seconds left. When you get the red card, the time is up, but don't stop mid-sentence; just finish your thoughts and then we'll move on.
When you're ready, Chief Augustine, I'll start the clock. The floor is yours for five minutes.