Thank you, Mr. Chair. I just have a couple of general comments, but more likely leading up to some questions as well. But for the most part I think the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs might understand where I might be coming from today, because we had such a large group today. Just touching base with some of the leaders, there’s some renewed optimism that things could be salvaged, things could be made possible in terms of at least realizing a dream for some of us, the conclusion of land claims and self-government arrangements, especially with the regions that haven’t settled yet, including the Dehcho First Nations and Akaitcho.
But before I get there, I am kind of reminded of our responsibility for working with the GNWT, plus the working relationship with the federal government and just the long history of First Nations’ rights in the NWT. I think the leadership of the day, back in the ‘60s, the ‘50s, had a large part in defining Aboriginal rights through the treaty entitlement across Canada and it continues today. There have been legal precedents and, at the same time, jurisprudence on First Nations’ rights and especially harvesting rights. It’s very clear in terms of how it is defined through the federal courts plus the provincial and territorial courts.
My question is: What is this department doing in terms of trying to heed? I know we’ve come a long ways in working to establish a very good constructive working relationship with First Nations, yet with the increased responsibility of devolution, this government has to have a clear mandate in terms of regulating. Plus, in terms of its policy, in terms of the general laws of application, that despite perhaps one group’s clear defined rights within the federal Constitution of Canada there are still policies and regulations that need to be applied. I’m speaking in terms of harvesting rights, in terms of wildlife, whether it’s wildlife in terms of caribou, or else harvesting rights and whether it pertains to forestry and a person has to go in the bush and cut some wood to heat their homes or to put food on the table. Perhaps it would be beyond the scope of the Minister to comment but, I mean, I would like to understand how it is that we’re trying to make the best of possible situations and go forward and be constructive and try to at least maintain good, positive working relationships but, at the same time, ensuring that things are done in a constructive manner.
Basically, what I’m getting at is: Has this government taken on a policy shift in light of devolution, or are we still maintaining perhaps the status quo of trying to at least maintain a good working relationship with First Nations? Mahsi.