Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We believe that through the exploratory process that's being proposed there will be a fresh breath into the lives of aboriginal peoples in the “time for honest reconciliation”. For some aboriginal peoples there will be a rekindling of continuing forms of governance, reflective

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  What I'll do at this point is I'm going to just move on. I think everybody understands that this section is an insult to aboriginal women and their descendants. To move on the road for reconciliation, we are in the midst of real political action to resolve many problems created

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Good evening. It's an honour to appear before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development. I want to thank the Algonquin people on whose traditional ancestral homelands we are assembled. We brought copies of our presentation for ever

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's right. We have a national AHRDA accord. Because some of our PTOs were not able to secure AHRDA funding on their own, we're able to assist them with a subagreement to provide a little bit of training and employment opportunities for their constituents. This will now take th

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  To my left is Alastair MacPhee. Alastair has worked with the Congress of Aboriginal Peoples for a number of years, in particular in environmental and health issues, and lately he's been very instrumental in assisting us through a transitional period. To my right is Mr. Roger Hu

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  So they're very experienced men in the world of politics and aboriginal issues.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Each PTO has different constitution bylaws. I can speak to New Brunswick. In New Brunswick, the chief and president is elected by universal suffrage. Any officer, aboriginal person, whether they're a member or not, has the right to have themselves put on the voters list and can

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In New Brunswick over the years we've had more than 8,000 people, I'd say, come through our doors. The fact is, in order to get services, you do not have to be a member of the organization. A membership is no different from what it would be for a member of the NDP, the Conserva

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The Daniels case has been in the system since before I joined the CAP board, which was 13 years ago. The justice department has kept it bogged down in procedural wrangling. Finally, the judge has said, “Enough. Let's get on with it.” My last update on that is that it's supposed t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, not to my knowledge.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's what we're waiting for, a date for the case to be heard, presentations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It definitely will, because it is a section 91(24) and it will establish who has responsibility under the Indian Act for Indians and those living off-reserve. I was successful in New Brunswick in winning a 91(24) under labour law, and I've done it twice under human rights acts, s

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The Congress of Aboriginal Peoples has always supported the matrimonial property rights, quite simply for the fact that we're in favour of anything that's going to protect women and children, period.