Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Feb. 3rd, 2026

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

It's not an easy answer. These processes that were created....

First of all, I want to state that we're not facing legal uncertainty. I want to make sure that we understand that. Ultimately, it's Canada that has the authority to create a reserve, and it's exercised that for other Algonquin communities as well. However, the unresolved status with which we find ourselves is actually an administrative barrier. Right now, we're asking for that clear political direction.

In terms of these processes—I'm just going to speak here—in the 1980s, we were close. We had site selection. We had land and there was a momentum of hope for the people of Wolf Lake. I remember being a little girl when those consultations were happening. There was excitement, thinking we would be situated together as a community, with my grandparents nearby. That was unilaterally stopped. The plug was pulled, and we don't know why. Fast-forward to the earlier 2000s, and we were promised an expedited process. I have reports here—these are from 2000—about the reserve acquisition process.

There's a long history of these colonial processes that have stopped this and taken from us, and it has to change. What I'm asking of this committee is to do that work.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON]

I'm pleased to say that the director of lands and environmental management has stayed at this committee. She is behind you, and was on the previous panel. I don't want to put her on the spot or anything like that, but she committed to looking into any files that we have outstanding.

My recommendation, through you, Mr. Chair, to Ms. Mitchell, is that this is one we can have a dialogue on after the committee and dive into a little more.

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

The processes that were promised [Inaudible—Editor] supposed to be fast-tracked and expedited. Today's term is “comprehensive”. They are far from it. I just want to share that too.

[Jamie Schmale, Conservative, Haliburton—Kawartha Lakes, ON]

Thank you. That's very helpful.

Grand Council Chief, we were talking about the lands issue as well. You said in your opening remarks that without land, you can't create sustainable communities, or something to that effect. I was writing it down. It may not be exact, but I think that's a reasonable summary.

I went on your website. I googled your nation and “news”. What popped up on the page, with a picture of you, was that your nation has declared yet another state of emergency over public safety. I don't know if you want to talk about that. I link this to land because you need land to create a sustainable community, but you also need public safety. It's hard to grow if people are afraid.

I don't know if you want to comment on this in particular, but it popped up right in the first Google search.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

You're actually over the time by quite a bit.

If we could get something in writing, I think that's an important thing to do as well.

Thank you very much.

Next we have MP Battiste.

Go ahead, please.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

Thank you for that.

Chief Robinson, thank you for your testimony today.

Also, thank you, Sébastien, for bringing this to light. We hadn't understood when you brought this up to us what you were getting at. I see now what challenge you're talking about.

I'm going to ask you some very quick questions where I'll need very quick responses, because, as parliamentary secretary for Crown-indigenous relations, we've sped up the ATR process based on factors. We've done 39 ATRs since May 2025.

I think we're on the right track, and I want to help you get on the right track, so if I ask some questions very quickly, I need some very quick answers. I have five minutes to do this.

Have you passed a band council resolution that identifies the specific addition to reserve and defining the exact boundaries you're looking for?

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

We are not in negotiations and we are not that far along in our process in the community. We have had community engagement and we have a general idea, but part of my—

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

Can you give me the general idea?

You have 300 members in your community. I assume they all are living in different places. If we're trying to fast-track something to get to a land base for 300 people, what is the ask? That's the first step. It's having an ask and then allowing for the rest of the steps. What do you believe is a reasonable ask to get this through?

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

To back it up a little here, too, to get to that number we've had to do a community study. It was a battle for us to be able to think of future generations, because it's not just about us here today. It's about the future. As you heard from the leadership who have been here, too, it's not just about creating a reserve for housing. You need to have land to have an economy. That's what this is all about in the end—

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

I understand all that. I just want to get you to the fast track. We're talking about the process here.

Do you have provincial government support to create a boundary for this reserve, and is it in writing?

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

I have spoken with Quebec. They are waiting for us to resolve the issue with the federal government first.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

The federal government needs to know the exact boundaries, and you haven't determined those boundaries or passed a BCR outlining the first step of additions to reserve. Is that correct?

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

At this point, yes, but we are ready to do that work when—

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

It feels like we're at the first step here in terms of identifying, but you're saying that it's the process of the federal government. On the second part of that process, do you have in writing the neighbouring communities and municipalities that are supportive of this as well?

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

At this point, no.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

Okay.

I have many more questions, Chief Robinson, but here's what I'm going to say. I don't agree with what's going on with this 200 years of waiting. You've been in this process since 2020, and I'm the first one asking you these very specific questions in order to fast-track this. I will work with your MP, with whom I have a great relationship.

Let's figure out how we can get this in place so that we can get to that place. As you know, it requires some work from the communities on the BCR, but after 200 years of waiting, I think we can figure out how to get this done and give you the best information possible with the folks behind you to get this done, and to at least make some progress on this with the steps we have in the additions to reserve process.

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

I certainly hope so.

[Jaime Battiste, Liberal, Cape Breton—Canso—Antigonish, NS]

Okay.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

We have MP Lemire for two and a half minutes.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Ms. Robinson, do you have anything to add?

I got the impression you had some additional information to provide.

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

Well, the ask from Wolf Lake is basically still the same with all of our leaders. It is to have that secure land base and that proper recognition, because today we continue to be in limbo without it. The time is now, and we're ready to do the work, but what we need is the direction and the political will of Canada to get us to where we need to be.

On these processes, like I said, we've been involved in them numerous times. We've been told that things were going to be expedited and fast-tracked. That has not been the case. We are looking for a comprehensive process to do this, as was written in the mandate letter that was provided, and to enter into negotiations. Yes, there's not much I can say on the negotiation front, but the political will, as you know, has to be there.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

What are your expectations of the federal government in terms of next steps? What recommendations would you like this committee to make as well, in order to help you?

[Chief Lisa Robinson]

I actually will be submitting a written brief as well with some of those recommendations. I'm specifically looking at the report and the follow-up to the 2024 report regarding land and restitution and resolving these historical claims. I will also include in there more information on the Wolf Lake perspective in a written brief.

[Sébastien Lemire, Bloc, Abitibi—Témiscamingue, QC]

Thank you.

In closing, I do want to acknowledge the courage that you and the chiefs around this table have shown. We know that this concerns many other communities across Quebec and Canada. They may be fewer in number and less visible, but they're facing realities, and the goal is precisely to be able to ensure that their situation is equitable and that they can also thrive as communities.

Kitchi meegwetch to each of you for your remarks.

[The Chair, Liberal, Terry Sheehan]

Thank you.

We have a hard two minutes left, because of the technical difficulties. Those will go to MP Schmale.