Mr. Chair, distinguished committee members, good morning.
The Société nationale de l'Acadie is pleased to contribute to the collective reflection on the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation in 2017. Our organization, commonly known as SNA, represents the Acadian people.
Founded in 1881, the SNA is now a federation comprising eight member associations, including four youth organizations, a special member and six associate members. The only official spokesperson of the Acadians, the Société nationale de l'Acadie, promotes the rights and interests of some 300,000 Atlantic Acadians and Acadia around the world. In the provinces we represent, our communities are in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador.
I would like to offer you a little example illustrating the heed that the Government of Canada pays to the SNA. Practically since the beginning of the Sommets de la francophonie, the SNA has been part of the Canadian government delegation in order to represent the Acadian people.
I will now ask my Vice-President, Amély Friolet-O'Neill to continue the presentation.