Yes. I met her as early as 2006, when I started working at INAC. I attended assemblies of B.C. chiefs. I was a co-panellist with her at academic conferences. I was a co-panellist with her at a number of meetings. We've had breakfasts and lunches. We've had an ongoing conversation.
I had relationships with indigenous leaders right across the country in order to do my job, and as I said in my testimony, I considered the former minister an ally in what we were trying to accomplish, a colleague and a friend.