Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the treaties that the honourable Member mentioned, Treaties 8 and 11, were signed between the aboriginal First Nations in the North here and the Crown, which is the federal government. The federal government has the fiduciary responsibility for First Nations they have signed treaties with.
We are the Government of the Northwest Territories, which is a creation of the federal Department of Indian and Northern Affairs. The treaty and aboriginal rights are the responsibility of the federal government. You know, as well as do many people, that for many years the treaty and aboriginal organizations kept saying that this government is not their government. They say that because they do not see their treaty being signed with us. Their treaty was signed with the federal government.
This is where the negotiations take place, trying to deal with the land and resources and self-government arrangements. They have to meet with the federal government and get that process going with the federal government. We are a third party to that table. In that way, it is the responsibility of the federal government to deal with the treaty issues. Thank you