Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It makes me wonder how our ancestors survived for over 15,000 years before the Indian Act came about. A lot of changes have happened in just my lifetime. There have been so many changes. I think a lot of the sharing that used to go on doesn't happen anymore, because of the changes that have been going on in the past 150 years.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I have a grandfather who's on the old age pension. He has two grandchildren who are orphans. They are 11 years old and eight years old. He's looking after them. We couldn't give him any help money-wise, but we were able to help him by putting in a support worker to help out with looking after the children.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much for listening to me.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  [Witness spoke in Wet'suwet'en] [English] My name is Yaga’lahl. I am from the house of Spookw—a Gitksan house—and the Wolf Clan. I'm a hereditary chief. I'm also an elected chief. The village that I come from is on our house territory, which is the house of Spookw. Our membership is now 792, of which two-thirds are living off reserve.