Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There is my community of Kamloops, Little Shuswap, Shuswap, Whispering Pines, Kitselas, and Brokenhead in Winnipeg. So there are a number of communites that I've talked to.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As I hinted at in the document, I think it will lead to better education. Right now in the federal budget there is a commitment for some $270 million for education and another $300 million or so for infrastructure to build schools. Education is an important component of a strategy for us to break the cycle of dependence.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The title would always be, in perpetuity, Kamloops.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's substantially different because you would be able to have fee simple ownership.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's like Ontario or British Columbia. They have title to the provincial lands.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Well, they do. If you don't pay your taxes, they'll come and take it.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Just quickly, I want to read statements on Attawapiskat by two of your colleagues. This is Charlie Angus: Thanks to the provisions of the Indian Act, workers who may want to build their own house in Attawapiskat are unable to do so because they can't get a mortgage on a reserve.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are lots, but I'm here to facilitate discussion with parliamentarians, and I welcome this opportunity.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That is correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The first step, obviously, is to get the legislation passed through the House and through Senate, and then receive the royal assent. Ultimately what we foresee is that there will be a vote firstly with the band council to engage in a process to educate their members because the members have to know all of the pluses and minuses of moving towards this piece of legislation.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  When I started to think about these issues, it was obviously in relationship to my experience in Kamloops and what I saw there. I started to read some of my dad's statements in 1968 about the consultation process called “Choosing a Path”, which was undertaken with Jean Chrétien and the Trudeau government and was about abolishing the Indian Act.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I have no argument with that. If that's what they wish to pursue, then...Godspeed. I think first nations have to have a lot of opportunities to make their own choices, their own decisions. I have been involved in these matters for over 38 years. I have lots of practical knowledge in terms of dealing with the issues.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The proponent first nation communities that I'm working with have gone through a land-use study exercise. They've outlined which lands would be held communally. In most cases they're already under certificate of possession. So individuals already have a certificate of possession.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  They've already taken a stand, without—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  They've already taken a stand, without asking me about what my position was on those matters. They've rejected the FNPO proposal. That was without hearing my arguments or the proponent first nations' arguments about why they want this particular piece of legislation.