The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous People is a really important human rights instrument to recognize the inherent rights of indigenous people. This goes also to what I was speaking of in my opening: We have our own laws and we have also our own solutions to very complex issues.
The challenge and the reality for many of the communities is that those answers are never listened to, supported, funded or properly evaluated so that there could be a business case. They are often ignored and then nothing gets done. Then we always end up in this perpetual cycle of having all the answers, but yet we don't get the resources to implement those solutions to make significant change.
The will and the spirit and the vibrancy and the inherent values of our culture are strong and always have been. We're here for a reason. I really think that's important. UNDRIP is an important recognition of that strength of indigenous people in Canada and it needs to be supported in all aspects.
Again, I want to refer to how you get there, which is really by that co-development approach and by engaging with industry, government and communities all sitting at the same table.
That, to me, is the answer and the opportunity.
Meegwetch.