Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  For me, the idea isn't that I would not want the words “Indian residential school“ removed from the act. What I am cautious about is any history being taken from the Indian Act that demonstrates what occurred with Indian residential schools at a time when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is under way and in the process of making ongoing recommendations about implementing strategies that could heal the generations who currently exist.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Can I respond?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would suggest that the committee look at implementing the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples. NWAC provided input for a guide on how to implement that, and I'd be happy to share that with the government. It lists step-by-step processes for achieving free, prior and informed consent, and how you would do it over one, two, five, and ten years of building a true collaboration, not over a year with intermittent standing committee hearings with one or two presenters.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thanks, Michèle. Good morning. [Witness speaks in her native language] My name is Teresa Edwards, as I was introduced by Michèle. I am from the Mi'kmaq First Nation in Listuguj, Quebec. As Michèle so eloquently stated, the MP Rob Clarke has claimed that he brought this legislation forward because the Indian Act is an archaic piece of legislation that treats aboriginal people as wards of the state, with no power.