Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. I think that's a closed-end question. If you allow me, I'll elaborate a little bit and give you my reasons why I think that is true. Oftentimes there's this deception. Most people don't want to die, save and except the ones who want to have the right to choose to die. I want to make very clear that this is about preventable loss of life and that our people don't want to die.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Let me elaborate on that. That's probably one of the biggest factors in the success of the types of programs that are needed. I might just say that for that individual who wants life more than anything, our first nation people will always defer and refer to the issue of their connection to the land, their home.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Today, we're looking at the first nation health crisis and specifically mental health. We feel that mental health should be a shared plan. Our first nations are quite prepared to do this work, but as you indicated, one of the shortfalls in the 2016 budget was with respect to mental health and addictions.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Again, the overall ask is for $136 million, breaking that down across 633 first nations across the country. It just shows that even at $136 million, it's a pretty conservative estimate. We definitely need a lot more, but this is what we need immediately.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think strategies and studies from an anthropological approach give us information to work with. I think we must underscore the fact that there are also emerging drivers to social issues and conditions. Here I would have to refer to the culminating factor of inaction by governments to address real injustices.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Which one, sir?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, I haven't. I apologize. I can't say I have.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, I can. I'm going to take a little bit of a risk here. I haven't seen the study, but based on the fact that you're making reference to the Quebec region, I would feel safe to say that in my assumption perhaps it has to do with the self-government agreements in the northern part of Quebec and the James Bay Cree-Naskapi Commission and their ability to have more control in first nations' jurisdictions of health and social programs, but more importantly to have a direct connection and shared control of lands and resources in the province of Quebec.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I just want to focus on the caveat that you mentioned about funding not being the only issue. I want to leave that out in front here, because it is an important observation. I liken it to the idea of getting into a vehicle and going somewhere. We obviously know that we can't stay where we are.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  When we look at long-term solutions through the insight and wisdom of our previous presenter, Cindy Blackstock, she did mention the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, which is 20 years old now. We're also seeing something more recent. A year ago we saw the executive summary of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 calls for action.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We need to support community-based approaches to suicide prevention and life-promotion. Given the role of self-determination as a hedge against suicide, it is vitally important to support community-based approaches to suicide-prevention activities and programming. These must be implemented.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Absolutely.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, thank you, Mr. Chair. I'd like to first of all acknowledge the Creator, the creation, the prayers, and the protocols. I also want to acknowledge the traditional territory of the Algonquin people. I want to acknowledge Cindy Blackstock, the previous presenter, and thank her for all the work she's been undertaking with the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal on child welfare.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Romeo. Today I referenced the James Bay agreement as well as out west, knowing those two regions are more advanced; and there is an economy, things are happening. There's autonomy and there's recognition, “nothing about us without us”. We need to recognize that where there are treaties—numbered treaties as well as pre-Confederation treaties—I think the government has to extend more effort to try to fix some of the systemic issues there because we're locked in conflict.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. We're here to ask the committee to fully accept our recommendations and ensure that government implements them ASAP, which is why there will be follow-up from us at the Chiefs of Ontario. Again, I want to thank the committee and my colleagues for their work and their guidance.