Canadian Heritage committee  There have been a number of pieces of legislation that have had consultation over the past few years. I think the first nations, Inuit and Métis languages legislation comes to mind as the federal government doing a distinctions-based approach to consultation with indigenous peoples and having sessions that bring together a diverse group of our constituency—for Inuit—to be able to speak on the legislation.

Canadian Heritage committee  I think Canada is still in an educational phase with regard to first nations, Inuit and Métis and how we fit within this country. Almost all the work that we're doing on the legislative front and also on the renewal of the relationship front is pushing back against ignorance, pushing back against the lack of understanding of the rights that we have as indigenous peoples globally and the rights that we have as first nations, Inuit and Métis in this country.

Canadian Heritage committee  In the Inuit community, we haven't had a lot of conversation. This hasn't been a primary concern of our population in relation to a lot of our other socio-economic issues and the hopes that we have for a renewed relationship. This is something that is undoubtedly a good thing—we don't want to conflate it with anything that isn't a very positive step.

Canadian Heritage committee  Absolutely. The educational components of the TRC calls to action are being undertaken in some places, and in some cases not. I think there still needs to be a big breakthrough in the respect for the representatives of indigenous peoples to lead curriculum development and finalization of curriculum within provincial and territorial school systems that purport to speak on their behalf.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes. The idea that we would spend a day to recognize and consider and think about not only residential schools, but more broadly the very negative effects of colonialism for first nations, Inuit and Métis in this country, especially, as I said, in relation to things like relocations and other human rights violations.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  The “yes” was that this is the first time that we at ITK have been consulted on this particular bill.

Canadian Heritage committee  The evolution of National Indigenous Peoples Day has been wonderful to see. From the early 2000s until now, I think it has grown, and we now have celebrations that happen all across this country, and more Canadians understand it. Many first nations and Inuit and Métis look forward to and celebrate that day.

Canadian Heritage committee  Each community across Inuit Nunangat, our homeland, receives a small bit of funds from the federal government to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Day. That's the fund I was referring to. As far as the push from indigenous people from Inuit first nations and Métis on making it a statutory holiday goes, that's been a conversation for a long time that predates the TRC.

Canadian Heritage committee  Yes.

Canadian Heritage committee  Formerly National Aboriginal Day, and now National Indigenous Peoples Day, is June 21. We receive funding from the federal government in the community I grew up in to have certain celebrations on that day. Our Inuit organizations across Inuit Nunangat, which is our homeland, do activities on that day as well, and often it's a day off work.

Canadian Heritage committee  You have to understand that the differences between first nations, Inuit and Métis within the federal context are astoundingly difficult to understand. There are very few people in this country, even in the legal profession, who could articulate the way in which each of the three indigenous peoples of this country interact with the Crown, or interact with provinces and territories.

Canadian Heritage committee  There is no pan-indigenous language. Any language you might use that a certain first nation, Inuit or Métis person has used is from their community and from their society. For Inuit, this isn't Turtle Island, although we respect the first nations who describe the world in that way.

Canadian Heritage committee  That's an excellent question. The Native Women's Association of Canada has put it very well in relation to the difficulties with mixing the two, recognizing past human rights violations and abuses but also recognizing the vibrancy of indigenous peoples in this country. I've celebrated Indigenous Peoples Day, formerly National Aboriginal Day, since my childhood, and that day is one of celebration.

Canadian Heritage committee  Nakurmiik. Thank you. It's an honour to be here this afternoon. I look forward to our conversation. In relation to this particular bill, first, any time that we can celebrate indigenous peoples in this country we should take every opportunity to do so. The ongoing conversations about reconciliation, and the way in which the Canadian government understands its obligations on the rights of indigenous peoples, as well as the way in which our self-determination meets federal structures, are all in flux, I'd say, and will be for some time.