Thank you, Mr. Chairman. First of all, I want to take the time to thank the leaders for accepting the invitation to attend, and to meet with us this afternoon. It crossed my mind, as they were speaking, that a month from now, we will have the answers to this debate, that we are deliberating on.
I would like to thank the leaders for their comments. Mr. Chairman, compared to Meech Lake, and so many times as an aboriginal person, I thank Elijah Harper, because yes, we did make significant progress, particularly for aboriginal people.
I know the proposed Charlottetown Accord does allow for collective rights to be achieved by aboriginal people. However, there are a few areas of concern, and that is probably what is causing some of the "yes" campaigns to be created, and some of the "no" campaigns to be created. I believe that we require clarification before we feel comfortable even to take a stand, and to go back to our constituents on this.
I think back to when we were younger and in school, one of the areas that non-native people used to encourage natives, was to get educated, get as much education as you can and assimilate into society. Today, I am thankful that I did not get a degree, or a lot of education, because I believe I probably would be a super bureaucrat, and even though our government is of aboriginal people, I sometimes do not believe they appreciate bureaucrats that are native.
I want to express one of the main concerns that I have with this accord. I too, am very concerned that there is, in regards to, the Metis Nation Accord, no participation and agreement from the Government of the Northwest Territories, that they are not a party to the accord. If this indication is anything like how the government at the time promised we would do the health transfer, that we would look after Metis' rights, I quite frankly and honestly, cannot believe this government.
I want to ask, before I make a couple of comments, particularly on the women's issues, and I know that we are only asked to make general comments. Further to that, Mr. Chairman, my questions are not particularly to the witnesses, but more so to our government who have been given accolades for giving support towards native people. I do not believe they have been giving full support, because of their reluctance to give full support to the Metis people.
Why is the Government of the N.W.T. not a party to the Metis Accord, and is it still possible for them to be a party to the Metis Accord? Mr. Chairman, I know the Minister had indicated because of the claims process, but at the same time, the claims process in our jurisdiction is not really fully acceptable, or should I not say acceptable, but it is not fully pushed by a couple of regions. I know that in my region, the south Slave region, where we have a predominantly native and Metis population, it is of significant concern.
I believe one of the major concerns, Mr. Chairman, is that we know that the Charlottetown Accord looks overall at aboriginal rights. I think that, until it is clear in the Metis population, to take another leap of faith in government, may be difficult. I do not blame them, taking into consideration the outline of events that one of our witnesses has outlined today.
Mr. Chairman, if I may, I would like to ask the Minister who made the decision not be a part to the accord? Thank you.