Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  First of all I just want to correct you. They're not barricades; they are checkpoints. We're 62 kilometres northwest of Montreal. They did some tests on May 29 and 30. As you know, Quebec has the highest number of cases across Canada, with three-quarters of the deaths. We are s

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  So far there have been no cases that I know of. Now that the shops are open, I know that could very well change. There are still checkpoints for coming right into the community where we reside. Time will tell whether or not letting people into the community to purchase their prod

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You can get them at the local pharmacy. That's where most people pick them up. Even then, it took a while for us to get those.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's a really good question, and thank you for asking it, Mr. van Koeverden. One of the things we started here was an adult immersion program for the youth to learn the language. It's a bit difficult now with COVID, because all of our first language speakers are elders and they

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The UN declaration is that framework of reconciliation, and not only for the settlers of our society but for us as well. We understand that this is what makes us Onkwehon:we; this is what makes us indigenous people. That land is part of this. It's the songs, the energy sharing, t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think traditional governments have been recognized at the international level. I don't see why Canada is refusing and standing firm in the colonial structure that benefits only them.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  If you're going to respect our self-determination, and if you're going to respect traditional forms of government and that traditional people be represented in any kind of discussion.... Because for us the women are the title holders to the land and the women are not being respec

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think of language, culture and land, something combined that reflects indigenous peoples' identity and the ancestral teachings that talk about the land. As we're living in these uncertain times, with climate change being a very real issue whether you're living up north or down

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  This has gone on for more than 100 years, but more recently we sent several letters. The traditional longhouse people, the Haudenosaunee people, have been excluded from many decision-making processes on land. It's not about the administration of services; it's about negotiations

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Well, there are differences. We had proposed in 1990 that the band council could deal with the services. They are service providers, but when it has to do with how the land is being used, development or anything that has to do with the land, including Oka park, the traditional g

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  First of all, I want to say that I'm longhouse. I don't go vote in band council elections because they are an imposed system. I know that Mr. Cardinal works for the band council in Kanehsatà:ke. As I mentioned before, our traditional governance was made illegal by a 1924 law wit

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  After three centuries of chipping away at our community, it's a checkerboard. The federal government tried to address this after 1990, and because of that there are certain areas where Québécois are living amongst us. There are Mohawks living in what's known as Oka, which is also

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Wa’tkwanonwerà:ton to all of the parliamentary committee members. Like many people around the world, when the pandemic began we felt like we were walking through a dystopian world in a blindfold. There was no leadership in the community for at least a month. We were vulnerable

Procedure and House Affairs committee  I don't know if I can really add to anything that's been said in this period. I want to salute Chief Bellegarde. [Witness speaks in Mohawk] It's nice to see you, if only virtually. Thank you. Really, as Mr. Bellegarde said, we might be a bit off track, but it's really import

Procedure and House Affairs committee  Yes. I think it's an important question on the role that I've been involved in. Romeo, it's good to see you within a span of 12 hours as well. It's always a pleasure. One of the things that I think is really important to know is that I was involved in the engagement sessions. I