Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think that, in Alberta, we're already having issues when the government lumps Inuit, first nations and Métis into one. Do you know what? We stand in a treaty position all the time, so it's easier to deal with the Métis nation. It seems to be a divisive tactic, and that's why we say that we're calling on the federal government to abandon the bill.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I guess, if I could take a stab at that.... Whose definition would it be under: the Métis settlements', the Métis Nation's, the provinces' or the feds'? I think it hurts—how fast you're trying to push this bill—when we, as first nations, are being told on a lot of bills.... In many of them, you can't even find two sentences of first nations' input, and that really hurts.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I believe this is going to open the door for more division.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. I think my comment was about the membership and, I believe, the land. When we're fighting over a territory, we have an issue. We also have a traditional territory here, which the Métis settlements and now the Métis nation claim. When you use the words “treaty” and “inherent right”, that's very offensive to us because the federal government can't even uphold our treaty.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I will address that in writing. I think there are too many points to discuss, but it's the same thing. We hold that position. We are the treaty and inherent rights holders.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think what's happening is this: If you hold status or bill...which was created by the government, you're not allowed to live on the Métis settlements. What we're saying is that the issue was already dealt with in the 1930s through the creation of the settlements.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I want to thank the committee members for giving us, from the Confederacy of Treaty Six in western Canada, a chance to address some issues related to Bill C-53. I am a treaty chief from the Frog Lake Cree Nation, which is part of Treaty No. 6. Our ancestors entered into a peace and friendship treaty with the British Crown in 1876 to allow her subjects to live in our territories.