Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's all Indian land at the end of the day, as far as I'm concerned. It is 100%.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I apologize. I'm not aware of the First Nations Finance Authority. We do have mechanisms here in the Yukon that allow us the opportunity for capital. As an example, we made a submission to Aboriginal Business Canada to borrow $100,000 because we were told that we fit within the criteria.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We can be here all day if you need it.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We have around 95 employees throughout our 12 businesses. We have a value of around $10 million, with very minimal debt. A lot of the investments we've gotten into are vendor-backed financing, so there is a commitment from the people that we're purchasing for, not only to ensure consistent management over a three- to five-year period, but also to ensure that the success continues.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No. It's primarily located in the north Yukon. I'm not too sure if they are involved, but we in the south aren't.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We created our economic development arm back in 1998. The focus was to buy well-established companies, blue chip companies, if you will. We do have a lot of people working diligently on our behalf to find opportunities. There are opportunities being presented to us every day; it's just a matter of finding ones that are going to provide not only stability but also a long-term kickback to first nations in order to provide, like I said, funding for government and programs and services.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I believe that as a first nations people, we are gifted with that as we grow up within our own societies. You can't undermine how important education is. It builds confidence within the citizens. It gives you the opportunity to expand your horizons. It gives you every opportunity to engage in a global society.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  To a certain degree, it would. However, as we always witness when we go to Ottawa on certain other functions, the Yukon self-government agreements are cutting edge. They're outside the box. A lot of those recommendations would be relevant. But the Yukon first nations have a whole different reality with respect to our powers of jurisdiction and the opportunities we have.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We're the only governments in Canada that have to create their own source revenues to fulfill the government's needs and obligations. Ideally, we need economic development within the communities, because that's where the self-based governments are located. We have to venture outside of our traditional areas to invest and to ensure that our government is going to get the feedback.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay. I'll talk quickly. We do have a representative service plan, which is an agreement between first nations and the government with regard to capacity building, where we're not only able to second government officials into our communities and into our governments to assist, but we're also able to take our citizens and bring them into the larger government to get the abilities there.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, I'd like to add to Chief Carvill's statement. We, as first nations, need to have a balance with regard to economic development. We've come from a traditional background, a cultural background, and we realize we need to have our tradition on one side and the contemporary on the other.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Just to reflect on Grand Chief Carvill's comments, opportunity for success is going to come through partnerships. The first nations are here for the long haul. We have been here for generations. We continue not only to invest in our territory, but also to be key role players in regard to moving things forward.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. We are given the ability through chapter 22 of our self-government agreements. It does allow us the privilege, in regard to traditional territories, of having priority over that. However, in order to incorporate it, it has to be the will of the government of the day. We struggle from time to time just to be relevant as a government in the Yukon, let alone a government within our own traditional area.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Gunalcheesh. I appreciate this opportunity to speak to you today. Welcome to the Yukon. My name is Chief Peter Johnston, and I represent the Teslin Tlingit Council. I'm here to talk to you about two important areas to the Teslin Tlingit Council in regard to economic development and the administration of justice.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm trying to take full advantage of my five minutes. Okay. We are a population of roughly 450 in our community, which is made up of about 65% first nation population. We are a traditional self-government in Teslin. We have five clans that represent the government body: the Yanyeidi, the Daxaweidi, the Xooxetaan, the Ishketaan, and the Daishetaan.