Mr. Speaker, I think there is a major assumption that is being made here by the Member, which has to be clarified. Band governments do not constitute a third order of government. They are not what is endorsed by aboriginal people to be their form of government. They are at best, in most situations, administrative bodies. I think there are many communities across the country that would dearly love to do away with Chief and band council systems and come up with their own, much more acceptable and a more all embracing type of a decision making body. I think that is important, but I cannot give any assurance to native women about it. That is a fact, we believe that aboriginal people can govern themselves and they govern themselves in the best way that the see fit. It is not for this territorial government to start putting pre-conditions on it, that is an important point to make.
It is wrong for some groups to suggest that this whole deal be scrapped, that the gains made by aboriginal people, and that this should be scrapped, because there are insufficient assurances, and their fears are not put to rest by this deal. I think they have to believe that their people are going to treat them the way they should be treated in the first place. They should not be asking for governments, particularly the federal and provincial governments that have long denied the recognition of aboriginal people in practice, in law, and in the Constitution, the full recognition of rights of people, not only women, and not only native women, but all aboriginal people.