Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think one of the things that has to occur is that the Department of Finance needs to take a much more important role and come to the table for the programs and services transfer agreements. The other thing we need to do is make sure that the laws work together. It's really abou

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's correct. We had requested that Canada and the Yukon work through section 18 of the self-government agreement. We find ourselves in a catch-22. Canada says they provide the money to the Yukon government; the Yukon government, under section 18, says that there should be no n

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. It's not that the judge doesn't understand the law. He understands the law very well, but the law is designed in such a way that it does not permit the grandparents to take the child. Under our traditional culture, the grandparents have a lot of weight in the raising

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That is correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. We've negotiated for 30 years. We finally got to final agreements. Our effective date was five years ago. We started working on our law, as I pointed out. We've negotiated and done all the things we needed to do under the final and the self-government agreements, and what we

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. Can you hear me all right? I have a bit of a presentation. We can send it in to you a little bit later. We've been now working on developing our Family Act, and it's taken over 10 years. We started developing our Family Act before our final agreements and self-gove

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I know that with the leadership where we were at, it was discussed, knowing that nobody wants to see those kinds of caps on it, but at the same point in time, I have to reiterate that when we looked at it in the Yukon, we realized that we have to move forward. In our presentation

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In terms of some of the specific claims, the cap is reasonable. There are other areas where they're under comprehensive claims. That is a different process. I don't want to get the two mixed up, because there are some comprehensive claims that fall into a different category. But

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As I pointed out, we have participated. We have talked with the Assembly of First Nations; we've come to some of the meetings to address some of those areas. Whether it has been adequate is a big question. As I pointed out, yes, there are areas for a lot of improvement. We've p

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think mediation is wonderful. As a matter of fact, most of our structures are built around consensual approaches and these types of things. I think it makes a lot more sense; I think you can get more creative solutions, and I think you get more agreeable solutions when you look

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll start with the second question. We are involved. AFN did come to the Yukon to present some of the things. As leaders, we did go in and review what was done. We did participate in the Assembly of First Nations. So to that degree, we have had consultation. I know our technic

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  One of the comments was about the tribunal being one person. I mean, obviously it would be great if there were more. What I think is important is that what's being proposed is better than the way it was before. Do you know what I mean? It's not the best. We use circles, we use c

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Good afternoon, honourable members, ladies and gentlemen. It's an honour to come to present on behalf of the Council of Yukon First Nations. I'd like to ensure that you have a basic understanding of our constitutional circumstances with respect to comprehensive claims and the sp