Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Very quickly, resource-revenue sharing is not just an endeavour that should be looked at by the provinces and territories. Those within the federal family through the division of powers, this notion of control and authority over our lands, is a big problem today. I think the De Beers mining issue is just one example.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's a very good question. I'll be very quick, because I know there should be room for others to speak. It's about basic needs. We need to take a child-centred approach. I think the question is so paramount, because we need to think about the next generation. All of us think about our children.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. That's right.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think you raise a very good point. Again, proposal-based funding is not all of what we need right now. You're absolutely right. I go back to the point that I made about the culmination of impact of non-funding and the funding cuts. We need to transition into a transformative health framework in this country.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. Thank you. I want to leave some opportunity for the Grand Chief to respond to this, because this is something that he's focused on, and it's very pointed in terms of his territory. Take Attawapiskat as an example. They have a diamond mine right there. Why on God's green earth does Attawapiskat not have access to more benefits coming out of their territory?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Grand Chief Solomon. I'm going to point out one thing with regard to your previous question. The cost of doing nothing is huge. We need to look at the impact of the last 10 years, set that aside, and begin to do some damage control there. With respect to what's been done and what's working, again, turning to our communities and recognizing that we've got the best of the best on the ground.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Again, the meeting was very well attended. The responses from both the federal and provincial governments clearly were something we haven't seen in a long, long time. The former Conservative government did not respond in that way. And why I say that, and what's most important to recognize here, is that as we've been under a 2% cap, and as we've seen funding cuts over the last decade you will see a culmination of issues that have backed up.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think it's important to note, and I know my colleague will expand on this, the situation we have right now is that various regions have access to current health care systems in urban centres and some in remote regions, but in the remote north they have very specific needs. You can no longer do business like this in terms of health.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Very quickly then, Mr. Chair, just as a short history bite, the NNADAP program back in the seventies was one of those moments in time where the federal government and first nations across this country said we need help. Cabinet actually went forward and they helped with the investment in an NNADAP program, which still exists.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  With my last couple of points, then, Mr. Chair, I'll conclude. As leaders, we all aspire to some of the main tenets in serving our constituents: to be fearless builders, to increase the quality of life of our people, and to set out the petitions that we've done today to this committee.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Meegwetch. Boozhoo, Wachiya, Sekoh. Good afternoon. First of all, I want to acknowledge the creator, creation, the prayers, and the protocols that were offered today for all of our people. I want to acknowledge the traditional territory of the indigenous people—the Algonquins and the Anishnawbe.