Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I really like the brevity of Chief Bellerose. Just listen, also. It's really difficult, and we can sometimes get it into our heads that we have all the answers, but you have to listen to the people to know what those answers are and what the people want. That's what our chiefs

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We would be more than happy to help.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question, MP Bérubé. I advocate very strongly the removal of paternalistic legislation. We don't need more legislation; we need more ability to do what we need to do on the ground. You see programs like those in Akwesasne. You see the Tsuut'ina down south here

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Was the question directed to me?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay. Thank you, Mr. Chair. As you can appreciate, the bylaw-making powers within the Indian Act are pretty narrow. There are about 22 abilities for a nation to make those decisions. When we're looking at enforcement, it's going to be at a myriad of levels. Those nations that a

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. Thank you again for the question, MP Battiste. That is one good recommendation. It is one start to it. What we do recognize is that we have the framework. We have the Public Prosecution Service to be able to do so. We need to make those amendments to legislation. They're wi

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chair. It's a really good question. I want to echo Chief Lazore's sentiments. Ultimately, the Criminal Code isn't going anywhere. I think the way Chief Justice Lamer put it was quite great in the Delgamuukw decision:“Let us face it, we are all here to stay.” We'r

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'm sorry. To reframe the question, is it whether first nations or indigenous groups have difficulties accessing the justice system generally for lack of funding? Yes, that's a theme that has been reiterated many times at this committee today. I'm sure that you hear it at the o

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for your question, Ms. Bérubé. If I may, I'll respond in English. What we never purport to do is to speak for nations. Nations have their own inherent right and sovereignty, which we try to protect. When we're looking at being able to provide nations with their abilit

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Listen to your first nation counterparts. Listen to the people on the ground. Open up those dialogues. Really, get out of the business of Indian management. We can do it. We have the ability to do it.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, there is no similar kind of court in Alberta yet. I know that there is some discussion about getting that off the ground. However, to date, those are the only ones—those ones on the east coast—that we know of that do practise that full jurisdiction and that inherent jurisdict

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, although with those situations, it's mostly in southern Alberta, where there are a lot of police forces that first nations have put in place themselves. In central and northern Alberta, there aren't as many. It's mostly the RCMP that occupy the field, particularly if they ha

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. Thank you, Mr. Chair. Thank you for the question, MP Schmale. What we're looking at is that the Criminal Code isn't disappearing either. The Criminal Code has equal application on first nations reserves. What we're looking for is getting the ability to deal with our band r

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  [Witness spoke in Nêhiyawêwin and provided the following text:] Ahâw nitotemtik kiatamiskâtinawâw kâhkîyaw, nitikawin sîpîysis, kipohtakaw ohciniya. [Witness provided the following translation:] Dear friends, I am greeting all of you in a good way, my name is sîpîysis, and I