Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Meegwetch. [Witness speaks in Ojibwe] I'm giving you greetings from my people, the Anishinabek Nation in Ontario. I am a member of the Wikwemikong unceded territory based on Manitoulin. I also shared my Anishinaabe name, which is Giiwedanang, which is North Star. Having listen

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I was asked, because I had this challenge and the passion to rectify this legislation and to remove the discrimination towards our women. As you probably heard, within our traditional culture, we were not one step behind or looked down upon. We had the same recognition. We had ou

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's right.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Oh, that's good.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Having listened to the previous presenters, I think it would be best for the people within our communities if we could make the change now or in February, and bring that recognition to those people. To me that would be good. In 1985, when we were reinstated, it was major. You jus

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  This is the only piece of legislation that has been determining who we are. For a while, we weren't persons, but I guess that particular section was changed. It's the only protection we have in terms of protecting our land, the little bit of land that we have left. If we didn't h

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't think I understand what you are asking me.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. We are working on it.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, exactly, that's what I said. We recognize that if you can trace your descendancy through one parent, on either side, then you are entitled to be registered as a member of the Anishinabek Nation, or E-dbendaagzijig, those who belong.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Exactly. That's what we are aspiring to, because right now we are losing so many more of our members under the current system. This is one way of ensuring that we don't lose any more of our people. We cannot afford to lose any more of our members.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  If that's what we are going to be working towards, it would have to be.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, because we will have our own registrar. We'll have our own body of governance and leadership to determine all that. It has all been drafted already. I didn't have time to really get into it.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's under the current Indian Act.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, they do.