Environment committee  Thank you very much for the opportunity. It's too bad that I'm not on video, but this is the reality of the north. Our Internet service goes up and down all the time.

Environment committee  Like it was stated, I am the chair and the CEO of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. I think you have my presentation in front of you as well. The Inuvialuit, Canada, and the two territorial governments are party to the Inuvialuit Final Agreement, which is a comprehensive land

Environment committee  I thought you had my copies. I'm right near the end. I probably have another minute at the most.

Environment committee  Okay. I will just cut to the very last part in regard to regional strategic environmental assessment. The new government has allocated a budget, and we are working with them to develop the terms of reference, as well as the criteria to do an environmental assessment within my re

Environment committee  I will check with my staff to make sure it gets sent again if I didn't all go through. Like I said, we've been having technical difficulties in the region for the last few days.

Environment committee  In reference to that MPA that's under development, that's exactly where it's at. We're trying to finalize it. The terms are there. The concern we have is the lack of adequate resources being applied from the federal end of things to document our traditional Inuvialuit knowledge o

Environment committee  We're dealing with the Department of Fisheries and Oceans on this case right now. Actually, as I speak, I'm the co-chair of the Beaufort Sea Partnership, which has been in place for close to two decades. We're just starting our meetings, which I'm absent from at this time. About

Environment committee  They're at least a decade apart. Actually, the Inuvialuit set up the first one ourselves. When I say that I mean we established an MOU with industry not to do any activity within that area because it was a sensitive beluga habitat for their calving and their moulting. So they agr

Environment committee  Thank you, Cathy. Very quickly, it hasn't been abandoned. Planning is still in process. What you're suggesting is large-scale, regional, cumulative management approaches. Under our land claims, these activities have to be done in concert with us anyway, and I think you're full

Environment committee  This is the first time it's been seen. We have had chum salmon in the past, but only sporadically. Now, though, almost every community in my region, and outside of it into Nunavut, has been harvesting these pink salmon. I don't think people will turn them away, but I they are tak

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thanks, Madam Chair. Thank you all for the opportunity to present before you. My name is Duane Smith. I'm the chair and CEO of Inuvialuit Regional Corporation. With me today is my general counsel, Kate Darling. We will, as others have, just make it briefer than what we had plann

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Throughout my very brief statement I touched on quite a few areas where there needs to be improvement, Michael. Where do I start? We're expecting the same types of services that all Canadians take for granted in southern Canada. You look at the health and education, at the outc

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  If I were starting at the gate, my whole region would be mine. The compromise that we gave up.... Some people may not believe it, but we are an unceded region, as you've heard from other areas within Canada. It's not for me to say whether what we negotiate is right or wrong. It's

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We have three large national parks within my region. It's the first modern treaty to establish a national park with the federal government, as well. All of those combined are roughly 50,000 square kilometres. We have five bird sanctuaries in my region. We have a national historic

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The national parks themselves have all been created, in collaboration with us, for various reasons: for their unique beauty, their significance, and/or the preservation and sustainability of the ecosystem within that area. We have worked closely in that regard, and we continue to