Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the politics of aboriginal communities, each chief is elected for a certain term. Each president of a Metis local, for instance, is elected for a certain term; those are the ones that I am most familiar with. Each community has different understandings about what is the custom for removal of chiefs. For instance, in some communities it was understood that if a sufficient number of people showed up at a public meeting called to discuss the issue, and if a motion was passed at such a meeting, that was the end of the term of the chief.

The Metis locals run more by their rules. There are rules for the removal of officials. The regional and territorial organizations also have specific procedures under their by-laws and constitution for removal of officials. But the one that the Member may be most interested in is the custom of the Dene for removal of chiefs, where it is almost by local custom that it is done. It has become, I would say, not so widely practised any more. Thank you.