Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the IAB lands are Indian Affairs band lands. It has never been raised to this department before to consider a block land transfer to Indian Affairs land. I have to go back from experience. I know that different bands in the past from different chiefs, I have done band councils to Indian Affairs themselves to request certain identified lots in their communities to be transferred and made into band lands by Indian Affairs. This is an Indian Affairs initiative. I know that for some years now, Indian Affairs have put a stop to doing that, but I think it is something that could be considered. It used to be done in the past, and we have to find out if it has been considered or done by Indian Affairs again.

As a department within the Government of the Northwest Territories, I cannot speak for the Department of Indian Affairs, a federal department that deals with treaty Indians, to commit to that. Certainly we would like to investigate it and see what the possibilities are. I would work with the individual bands to consider that and be supportive. Thank you.