Canadian Heritage committee  We are aware of the Manitoba situation, but at this stage we're just trying to get the network moving. Certainly we'll be consulting with those successful networks across the country once we get our own foundation in place and begin to build the network. Then we'll be looking at other models to see what has worked.

Canadian Heritage committee  It's a good question. A big part of the network is just that, networking and providing a voice for first nations people. Although the network will be dedicated to first nations language instruction and mother tongue programming, a big part of its activity will be just to provide that link, as you've mentioned, which is so important, not only to share information but to create community, to bring people together, and to share important information as it relates to first nations issues.

Canadian Heritage committee  I am here today with Tim Paul, who is president of Maliseet Nation Radio Inc. I have been working with Tim for the last couple of years to expand the radio station throughout New Brunswick and Atlantic Canada. I want to thank the committee for this opportunity to present. I'll just give a quick overview of our few-minute presentation today, which will be to bring out the main points of the brief we presented.