Environment committee  Meegwetch. The vision—and we've talked about the vision for Caldwell First Nation through our indigenous lens—is to be able to protect the land. It's to be able to ensure biodiversity. It's really important for us, knowing that the bridge is there too, and ongoing, and that we

Environment committee  Yes, I would love to. We have a very strong relationship with Point Pelee and the superintendent there and all the staff. We're the only first nation that participates with them in a deer herd reduction, also known as a cull. Caldwell First Nation hunters go in and remove the ov

Environment committee  Thank you for that question. As you know, first nations are federally governed. We fall under the federal government. We do not fall under the provincial government or a municipality. Federally, we have a great relationship with Point Pelee. We do a lot of work with Point Pele

Environment committee  Yes, I can speak to that. We're early in discussions, and we had spoken to Parks Canada about a co-management model which has been done before. I'll leave it to Janet to give you that background. What does co-management look like? Co-management has a first nations lens which wo

Environment committee  That's a great question, Brian. In truth and reconciliation, we talk about that, and the truth is that we're trying to create a national park through a legislative framework so that it is solid and it will be there. The reconciliation part comes with action. There can be no tr

Environment committee  No, I just feel that all the support is here. The support has been there. I just feel we wouldn't be here today if we did not table this bill. I made it clear with Parks Canada to please move through the process in a meaningful way so that we don't finish this park in five years.

Environment committee  To be clear, we always say as first nations people, let us worry about our relationships—

Environment committee  —and you worry about yours. I think that was important to say to the park when they were consulting the two of us, so to put it to you in a way with the five nations, we understand our territory and we understand we work within that territory. There are five nations within that t

Environment committee  I think that you have to look at it. You can't force people to the table. I have a close relationship with Walpole Island. I worked on their territory for 17 years. I know the people and I know the chief. There's no way we would hurt our sister nation. We don't do that to each ot

Environment committee  Meegwetch. The mechanism is a legislative framework. That's the mechanism that's been used to create the Rouge. Being able to create a new legislative framework, we can create a really strong document to work from to ensure that the first nations are being consulted, that we al

Environment committee  I'd like to say that absolutely they can be overcome. Of the issues brought up by Andrew Campbell, the one thing I think will be an issue is consulting indigenous people. I refer to the rights holders. The rights holders are the Three Fires Confederacy, which are the five nation

Environment committee  —are very cautious in who they consult with.

Environment committee  [Member spoke in Anishinaabemowin] [English] I am very pleased to be here to present today. My name is Mary Duckworth. My spirit name is “The Spirits Are All Around Me”. I am the selected chief of Caldwell First Nation. I have come today to speak to you about the national u

Environment committee  It's been defined. We know who we are, and I say thank you to the chair. Meegwetch.