Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Most certainly, that is our view as we presented it, that we need that. But we need that “plus”, in the sense that Chief Erasmus reminded me the other day when he talked about all the recommendations in our camp, that they came from solutions within the first nations communities,

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I had the opportunity as an observer to watch honourable men, honourable leadership, compromise, talk to each other, and agree on something that would walk us forward as aboriginal people and the Government of Canada. I was able to witness that, and I am thankful for it. I know t

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much for your question. In our language, as a people, we acknowledge each other with our names. Whether we're Anishinabek, whether we're the Haudenosaunee, whether we're the Inuit, we all have names for each other by which we recognize each other, and we need to

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We're talking with Minister Oda about what friendship centres would look like in the future, about the kinds of enhancements they need today to catch up and to continue this work in 2007 and beyond. It's not only about the core operations of the centres. We also need to consider

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You can understand that as I am the president of the National Association of Friendship Centres, it is very valuable time. Without looking behind and knowing where I come from, how am I going to be sure where I'm going? For sure, I can whine and complain about what I didn't like

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That is the success of friendship centres. For every dollar, we're able to leverage seven more dollars from different areas. We know we could do better. We could share that with the other leaders and with government to start to build the business case for centres of excellence ba

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I believe, as a friendship centre movement, that we provide the opportunity for people to come together, that we do understand that we do have a relationship, for example, with the Anishinabek Nation. They very clearly have a number of friendship centres in their territory. They

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I want to say good morning and meegwetch for the opportunity to be here and present to the standing committee. I want to acknowledge the Creator for the day he has given us today. I want to acknowledge the peoples whose territory I am honoured to be in today, and most certainly