Thank you for the question. The short answer is yes. The longer answer is absolutely yes.
I don't think there's any doubt in our minds that the real intent of Bill C-51 is to coerce and intimidate indigenous peoples away from defending and protecting their hard-fought international rights expressed in the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, our section 35 rights in the constitution of this country, and the hard-fought battles through the Supreme Court of Canada.
This bill will criminalize pretty much everything that has brought us to this point in our history, in terms of being able to assert our rights and ensure that our interests are fully protected. As I know you have heard in previous presentations, much of our history would have been lost if this legislation had been introduced 40 years ago.
I have been involved in these issues for more than 40 years. I served as chief of our community for 14 years, and for 10 years before that I was a member of our council. This is my 16th year as president of the Union of B.C. Indian Chiefs, and I'm the chair of our tribal council. I'm 65 and I have 14 incredibly beautiful grandchildren whose future I am gravely concerned about, given the direction in which this country is moving.