Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning, members of the committee. Thank you for this opportunity to appear before you today. During the summer, as you've just heard, I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Warkentin at the 83rd annual general assembly of the Métis Nation of Alberta in

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. First of all, it's maybe just semantics, but there is only one Métis Nation. Although some say Métis nation of Ontario, Métis nation of Alberta, there is only one Métis Nation. In terms of the results achieved in Alberta, in the 1930s, after the federal government re

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. First, we talk about the historic Métis Nation, a distinct people who emerged primarily in western Canada, but also extend into Ontario—with a common history and common language, Michif, and with a flag—having all the indicia that make a people a people. S

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Again, I can only speak in generalities. In terms of health, the Manitoba Metis Federation did a study with respect to diabetes, which was concluded sometime last year. That has been provided to the Prime Minister's Office and to Minister Aglukkaq. The study covers Manitoba and u

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Basically, it will take more than the federal government; we need to find provincial governments as well. I think what we have proposed to the Prime Minister and Minister Aglukkaq would be a step in the right direction for the seven jurisdictions to get together to discuss this i

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm just going to answer briefly, and I'll have either John or Marc speak to the funds. I just want to say in terms of land, to make this clear, that we are excluded from every process the federal government has, and so--

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, I know. I just want to make others aware that it's something we want to work at. In terms of the funds, I believe it's the result of our Métis economic development and symposium process and of the engagement and the relationship we've developed with the federal government.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I believe the protocol is good and the Prime Minister has endorsed it specifically, and I believe it is well.... But, Marc, could you elaborate?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In terms of specifics, there's the Métis Entrepreneurship Fund, which is something we brought forward to the federal government in engaging our three Métis capital corporations in Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta. We're lacking them still in B.C. and Ontario. But in Ontario, o

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, so we can go up to $1 million now, which is very significant. That fund is owned and operated by our Métis capital corporations. Initially the federal government has invested $3 million and we're looking at the potential of $14 million over five years—again subject to demand

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No. We led the process and our three capital corporations are driving it. They've come up with an agreement as to how they're going to administer it. There's no increase in the administration, so it's basically all going out. I think it's going to be very successful. In terms of

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, I fully agree. That may be part of the reason too--but you'd have to ask them--why they're not too closely associated. But they are the exception. Even though scrip was distributed in the Northwest Territories, the federal government in its wisdom has decided to renegotiat

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think it's of tremendous help to individuals in the Métis community or the first nations community, or the Indian community, to have assistance for education without having to face a large debt when they get through. I know that some of the people in my community are looking to

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That would be the ideal, but certainly any kind of assistance we can get would also be good—and substantially more than what's in place now. Certainly to be able to move in that direction would be good. In terms of health, a program from the 2004 accord enabled moneys for Métis