Agriculture committee  The problem doesn't exist with the processing. It exists with a lack of resources, our natural resources that are out there. One of the things we need is for government to start recognizing what's called “natural capital”, and I'll quickly go through this. If we look at the Sto:lo, let's say a really rough estimate is that they consume about 1,000 pounds of aquatics per year traditionally.

Agriculture committee  The comment I made about access to foods was on the loss of our traditional diet and on how it actually subsidized the low incomes of our people. It was mentioned earlier on about $2,100 being poverty. I think it's around $2,200 for first nations. When you take away that ability to access traditional foods, you take away the ability to provide nutritious proteins.

Agriculture committee  When we're talking about food insecurities, I think one of the things that must be understood is that there's a fundamental difference in nutrition among first nations people or indigenous people. Western society is basically a protein-driven diet that's based upon flour and the Middle East fertile crescent....

Agriculture committee  For us, it's litigation. It's the only way we are actually able to get any results. Taking the federal government to court over safe drinking water and making it a human right is the only ability we have, and it's the only thing that actually created any type of level of change.

Agriculture committee  For the majority you start looking at the fixed incomes of first nations that a lot of the people experience, and how that erodes buying power based upon a 9% increase in inflation and food costs. Even for first nations that are down in the lower 250 kilometres from the Canada-U.S. border, our ability to access traditional foods is impacted in the case of anywhere from 70% to 90% of our traditional foods.

Agriculture committee  I would say that Canada should support the development of first nations-led initiatives to address food insecurity, including strategies to build first nations resilience against the impacts of food-price inflation. It should include enhanced infrastructure, investments to strengthen first nations economic development, and improved access to healthy food.

Agriculture committee  That's being done in certain communities across Canada. It's in certain locations, but it's not the norm. When you're talking about such things as greenhouses, technologies and others, there are certain requirements that would be affected by that. If you're dependent on diesel generation, then there are certain limitations on that or on the technology itself.

Agriculture committee  My name is Byron Louis. I'm the chief of the Okanagan Indian Band. It's an honour to be here today to share on the perspectives of the Assembly of First Nations concerning food price inflation and its devastating impacts on first nations. Given the short time for opening remarks, I will focus my remarks on three areas: the historic context of first nations food security and insecurity in Canada, the impacts of food price inflation on first nations, and our recommendations.

Agriculture committee  Okay. Can everyone hear me?

Agriculture committee  Good afternoon, everyone. [Witness spoke in Nsyilxcen] [English] My name is Byron Louis. I'm the chief of the Okanagan Indian Band. It's an honour to be here today to share the perspectives of the Assembly of First Nations, the AFN, concerning food price inflation and its devastating impacts on first nations.

Environment committee  Yes.

Environment committee  I'd have to look at some of those things you're making mention of because I'm under the impression that it is in the process of listing.

Environment committee  Socio-economic analysis is required throughout the act. I think—

Environment committee  I understand completely what you are mentioning there. One of the things that's in there when we look at the decline of a species from threatened to endangered and right down to extirpated is that you're also talking about the extinguishment of a right that's attached to that species.

Environment committee  Well, it started out by just sitting down and gaining an understanding of some of our initiatives and programs and how they complement some of their goals and activities in the wildlife federation. It was a sort of a meeting of the minds, but it's the communication that's most important.