Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We don't experience it in what we do. I come from a matriarchal community, so I'm used to taking orders. The reality is that there's probably more opportunity for women to move forward in the indigenous community in the kinds of things we're talking about. What we need are opportunities for inclusion.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  First and foremost, the First Nations Financial Management Board doesn't get involved in the economic decisions of first nations. I was invited by Canada to participate on the board and I did. What I have observed, as a member of that board, is the number of first nations communities that did come forward and want to participate in the economic benefits that were being derived from that particular project.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm sorry, but can I ask you to repeat that, please?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Is that for Harold, or who is it for?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think there are some philosophical barriers around aboriginal rights entitlement and fiduciary duty. What we have is what we refer to as a “coalition of the willing”, those who are looking for independent solutions to take care of themselves. I think that's one of the fundamental issues, the belief, particularly in more historical areas where they've had treaties, that there is a fiduciary duty that's not being upheld.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You're starting to by recognizing the need for aggregation. We're starting a pilot project that will allow back-office functions to be undertaken on a collective basis, because many of the communities that are in smaller and remote areas can't attract the capacity and the human resources that are necessary.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It is true that the bureaucrats are challenged because of existing mandates. In fact, I would argue that the government itself is in conflict because it has the fiduciary duty, but it also has the responsibility to protect the Crown. Those two don't always align, in my view, and I'm not a lawyer but an accountant, so I'm sure that lawyers will want to argue with me.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Ensure that we have the financial resources to fulfill our mandate and our purposes under the act. We can do it, but we can't do it if all of us don't have the resources to be able to do it. That was a big problem in the very beginning of this legislation. When you create institutions you need to ensure that they have sufficient resources to reach the indigenous communities across the country.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for your question. We have presented the road map to both ISC and CIRNAC. They have received it. They're not opposed to it, but we'd like to see it dealt with, and with a better sense of urgency, okay? We can't wait for two years or three years for this stuff to be implemented.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  [Witness spoke in indigenous language] [English] Good morning. Thank you for the opportunity to be before you today. When I appear before your committee, I'm always reminded that the FMA legislation, which created the finance authority, tax commission and the financial management board, was passed with all-party support.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  If I might, to answer the question, it starts with recognition, as Chief Teegee has said. We spend a lot of time talking about the resource industry. I think we all have to become aware of the emergence of ESG as a principle that will impact resource development around the world, and [Technical difficulty—Editor] in that process will be fundamental.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Well, I think it may well have. We are always finding ourselves in a position where we have to take what's being presented and then implement it and improve upon it. I don't think that I look at this as a failure of this initiative. I look at this as an opportunity to understand that this is going to become a living process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the invitation to be here today. It came to us only yesterday, so while we do have some opening comments, we will be preparing a fuller written brief that will be sent to you. I want to thank our regional chief for his comments and Dale for his comments, most of which I agree with.