Thank you.
Teslin Tlingit Council, as I mentioned before, is a legislative authority. Language and culture are essential to who we are as inland Tlingit. We passed our language and culture act, and then we developed our implementation plan and came up with our budget and work plan. We presented this to Canada, and unfortunately Canada just used some formula that they use for Indian Act bands and for everyone else. It's like we didn't even sign a treaty, and they just offered us pocket change after all the Crown had done to destroy our language and culture. That's not negotiation; that's take it or leave it.
A modern treaty commissioner would help point out to Canada that they're not living up to the spirit, intent or text of our agreements, or to protecting essentially the core of who we are as Tlingit—our language and culture. I also hold my hands up to my Acadian people, because I walk with two legs through this world, both of which I love. Thank you.