Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's really hard to say because we have so many claims on our plate. We can't even handle the load. We have three researchers, I think, three full-time researchers. All one researcher can handle is maybe one or two claims a year. It takes anywhere from six months to two years to develop a claim.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The AFN represents all the first nations across Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Their involvement in the—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  They formed the joint technical working group with INAC and research organizations across Canada to come together at the table and try to rectify the specific claims process.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  What kind of community involvement...?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I don't think there is enough engagement. We do have an organization in Manitoba called the Treaty Relations Commission, and one of their mandates is to inform not only the public but also the native population, the bands in Manitoba, on the treaty relationship within Canada.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think that when a specific band has a claim, whether it's at the specific claims level at the branch or at the tribunal level, those departments should come to the communities and engage with them directly so they have more focus on what they are dealing with.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Does that answer your question?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Again, it's the funding issue. As for other recommendations, I don't have much time, but we also have an issue with the Dakota bands in Manitoba. As we said, they are not party to treaty, and we are still trying to find a way for the government to recognize their having aboriginal rights to the territory.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You are talking about the tribunal now.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  My name is Patricia. I'll answer the questions, if you don't mind. What changes would I recommend in the specific claims process? Last year the joint technical working group was formed between AFN, INAC, and several research directors across Canada. They formed four subcommittees to deal with four issues only.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  As Cam said, it has to be a body that can deal with the claims process and that is not judge and jury. That's basically it. Also, they should have control of the funding. That's one of the bases of the funding issue.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The timelines...?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  TARR Manitoba doesn't have a mandate to participate in the tribunal process. All we have is the information that we get from the tribunal on an annual basis, which gives an update on the status of it.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We do have a few first nations in Manitoba that have claims at the tribunal level, and apparently it's a very long and costly process.