Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Nakurmiik, Mr. Chair. It's great to be here talking about such an important topic. I'm Natan Obed. I'm the president of Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami, which is the national representational organization for Canada's 65,000 Inuit. The majority of Inuit live in Inuit Nunangat, which i

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Without significant and enhanced new investment, the 40% need for core housing most likely will increase. We have no plan right now other than the status quo. Yes, there have been investments in housing, but we have a growing population and we also have higher costs than we have

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  First and foremost, the distinctions-based way that this government can work with first nations, Inuit and Métis, and also empowering Inuit self-determination as a part of these solutions, will go a long way towards getting to a better place when it comes to the respect for housi

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll just jump in briefly. There are a few different components to that. First and foremost, the majority of Inuit live in social housing. Through the Inuit Nunangat housing strategy, we imagined we were going to have a diverse set of circumstances. Growing home ownership within

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We do have a mechanism within the Inuit-Crown partnership committee process where, once a year, we reflect on the work we have done to date and the progress we have made. On this particular strategy, there has not been as much progress made as we would have hoped. Part of that i

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In relation to tuberculosis, the very first time that the federal government ever publicly promised to work with Inuit to ensure that Inuit had the same level of social standard as any other Canadian was when it announced that it would work with Inuit to eliminate tuberculosis in

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Nakurmiik, Lori. Thank you for the question. The challenges that we have had, not only with housing but other infrastructure dollars, is that, if there is an announcement in a federal budget or an announcement by the government for a specific initiative, the approvals in Treasur

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Nakurmiik. Thank you, Mr. Chair, and good afternoon to all the members of the committee. ITK is the national representational organization for Inuit in Canada, the majority of whom live in Inuit Nunangat, the Inuit homeland encompassing 51 communities across the Inuvialuit Set

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has not necessarily been in the same rooms as first nations and Métis in the last 10 to 15 years when it comes to UNDRIP legislation in Canada. We have had our positions all the way through. They may have been slightly different from those of first nations

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The term “veto” does not appear within the provisions of UNDRIP, especially in regard to free, prior and informed consent. It is very clear, and it is an international instrument, just like conventions such as the UN charter. It's fascinating to me that somehow, for indigenous p

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Our position doesn't include specific revisions to the timeline, but I think the points you raise are very well taken. Government does need time, but it certainly seems, in all of the processes that I've been involved in or am privy to, that it's always a rush at the end. Many ti

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As somebody who is in the co-development process, perhaps Tania could address that. I'm supportive of any language that recognizes the importance of women and girls in this particular process. Tania.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We've listened closely to not only Inuit perspectives but also Canadian perspectives on this piece of legislation. We've also listened to ministers and governments speak about indigenous people's rights and what may happen with the adoption or passage of Bill C-15. I think there

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and then the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls all had different mandates. They all had different reasons for being. At the heart of it was human rights, and t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The commission is filling an implementation gap. It is a mechanism to allow for the greatest possible implementation of this legislation. It is merely meant to be an aid. I would hope that committee members would read it, and imagine that this particular commission would help do