Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's 88 square kilometres.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think it would accelerate the process. I represent the young generation, and that's the way we think. We want this to be over now. We want to start working. We want the tools to develop ourselves and also to develop this country and participate in the country's development. But to do so, I think the country needs to invest in first nations like us to give us the opportunity and the tools to create a momentum so we can have better input in that development.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Let's say, just quickly, 30% are on EI and maybe another 30% are on welfare.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, and most of the workers work for the band office. That's the main employer, which is an extension of Indian Affairs.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. We're doing a land claim, of global negotiations. We've been doing so for almost four years now. Pretty much as Ms. Bernard said, it's always been a problem for many reasons. One of them, as she mentioned, is the change of negotiators on both sides. The provincial or federal government is always changing the negotiator.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We are negotiating right now.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  For this specific one, it's been over a year.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We're just starting again.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. I know the negotiation has been going for 40 years, so there's a lot of work already done, but sometimes the approach is different from one negotiator to another. There's always the problem of mandate too. The negotiator doesn't always have the mandate to go further with what he can do.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Madam Chair. Honourable members of this committee, good morning. [The witness speaks Atikamekw] My name is Constant Awashish. I am the Grand Chief of the Atikamekw Nation. I only received this invitation last Friday. I would like to make a comment, without animosity.