Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would add that before governments try to build anything, they must first build the respectful relationship with the rights and title holders. That will prevent blockades and legal challenges. You'll find sustainable development projects going forward once that happens. That's t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Just very quickly, thank you for the question. I made some recommendations. I'll go back to my 12 recommendations and I refer you all back to them. That's what we'd like to see. To be clear, on the purpose of the act, it's just the implementation of the UN declaration, to take

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That is exactly right.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Ms. Gazan, thanks for the question. There is no question that we operate from our chiefs-in-assembly mandate, and I indicated earlier that when Bill C-262 was not passed in the Senate, our chiefs met in assembly and said “National chiefs, AFN, go get a government bill that's as

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, because you have to jointly develop a national action plan. You have to do that together. That's very key. You have to get the laws and policies of Canada that don't respect aboriginal rights, title or jurisdiction, that don't respect treaty rights. They have to get in line.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You're muted, Willy.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mrs. Gill. The only fear that we have about the bill is that we're running out of time. That's the biggest fear. We're already into April. You have May and June. The sitting days are getting to be few. We need to get it out of the House of Commons and into t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Just further to that, Leah, as well, the new clause that I recommended, 2(4), says “For greater certainty, the rights of Indigenous peoples, including treaty rights, must be interpreted flexibly so as to permit their evolution over time and any approach constituting frozen rights

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'd agree with that statement, but I go to my learned colleague, Mary Ellen, for further comments.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll make some quick comments, and I'll ask my lawyer friends, as well, to make some comments. Thank you for the question, Mr. Vidal. Good morning to you. I was going to make my comments earlier on, as well, to Mr. Schmale's question about it. The federal government has jurisdic

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Maybe I'll ask Mary Ellen to go first, and then I'll make some comments right after her. I'm just bringing up the act here.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Mrs. Gill. I would refer to our constitutional legal experts to answer the importance and relevance of the preambular paragraphs. We did make some recommendations to strengthen them. I'll ask Mary Ellen to lead off with a response to your good question.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Schmale, for the question. I will make some comments and I will ask Mary Ellen and Willie to jump in after, so I will be brief. I have always said that for indigenous people, one of the most important rights we have is the right to self-determination, and that is

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Chair, and thank you to all of the committee members for agreeing to the 15-minute time. [Witness spoke in Cree] [English] That was just a little bit in Cree for my friends and relatives. I'm very happy to be here with all of you. I used one of my spirit names,

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you.