Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  UNDRIP is currently being discussed. I believe that was introduced in December and that is something that especially the treaty first nations have some issues with, because they believe that a treaty is an agreement and that exists and nothing has really moved forward on the recognition of our treaties even though we've been advocating for that for a number of years.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The issue of UNDRIP is still being discussed. Legislation has been introduced and it hasn't received royal assent yet. There are still consultations. There's still the process that needs to continue where there will be appearances before committee. I would rather allow that to unfold before anything is mentioned to include other types of agreements that are not agreed to by everybody collectively, moving forward.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The language that the AFM executive recommended...I will just read the addition. It's “including the inherent rights, titles, treaties and agreement with First Nations, and the rights and agreements with Métis and Inuit peoples”. That was the recommendation from the AFN executive.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  From my understanding and what I was told by my family, my great-great-grandfather signed adhesion to Treaty 8 on July 13, 1899. He did that on behalf of our nation. Only nations could enter into treaty. We have inherent rights to the land. That's what we're born with. Treaties preceded that and even preceded the Canadian Constitution.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The recognition of the rights is something for which my ancestors have been fighting for hundreds of years, east and west. I believe that it's high time that those rights be not only recognized but also implemented and that the treaties be implemented. To me, that is very important to the reconciliation process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Section 35 of the Constitution does incorporate the treaty and aboriginal rights, and I believe it also includes the Métis and the Inuit. I think it's just a matter of treaty implementation. One of the things that we've always strived for is to have a treaty implementation policy, because as you are aware the Indian Act was put into place even before Treaty 8 was signed and we were put under that.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Our history precedes any of the books that were written. For example, when I go home, there are books that were written by the nuns or the priests, and the history starts from their era. Our ancestors fought hard for the land. They maintained the land and entered into agreements with the newcomers.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As I said previously, the Constitution is the highest law of Canada. Treaty rights and aboriginal rights are recognized in there. To me that already exists. It is just a matter of taking those words and incorporating them into the citizenship oath. To me, as long as the treaty and inherent rights are acknowledged, I think that goes a long way for Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I've done my research and have read about the Bloc and its concern with the Constitution. We have to acknowledge that inherent rights and treaty rights preceded the Constitution and are contained in there. There are also a number of court cases that affirm first nations treaty rights and title and aboriginal rights and title, so I think it's incumbent on the legislators to ensure that these aspects be included in the bill.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I want to share a story that I had with my hairdresser, who was going through the immigration process in Canada. She was telling me a bit about what she was learning, but she had no idea about the residential schools. I proceeded to educate her and she did some research, and when I come back to see her, she was telling me all of what she'd learned.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Our people, first nations people, are ceremonial people, which was indicated when we negotiated those treaties. It was done in a ceremony. The land acknowledgement that people do now is ceremonial in itself. What I would like to see is an official welcoming, possibly by our elders, as part of that welcoming process for the new citizens of Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, I do have a concern, because to me this is an easy thing to do. You just have to change your wording or insert the wording to include “Aboriginal and treaty rights”. To me, that shouldn't take long. It shouldn't have taken this long. Yes, I do have a concern, because for true reconciliation to occur, I believe this will be a great first step in that process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I have not, that I'm aware of, nor has the executive. However, I believe the national chief has been involved in those discussions directly with the minister.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's exciting that this discussion is occurring, even though it has come to the table for the third time. I'm hopeful and optimistic that this time it will go forward.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I recognize that the Constitution is the highest law of Canada, and treaty and aboriginal rights are recognized in there. I'm good with the way the wording is, but if we can include “inherent rights”.... We believe that our inherent rights are something that was bestowed on us from time immemorial and that treaties came after that.