Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  This is a groundbreaking moment. The United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples provides the principles and processes to be able to get it right. The recognition of nations can occur through the declaration in a way that would allow for communities to deal with the local and often widespread sexism and lateral violence.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thanks, Jaime. It's good to see you again as well. That's a great question. In the Delgamuukw decision, the court decided that there was title that would be recognized in a national group. The content of that title would be fee simple-like. The Tsilhqot'in case showed that there would be beneficial interest in the land that the first nation would exercise.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the opportunity to speak with you. The issues I want to raise have to do with the application of indigenous law. I'm grateful for understanding that aboriginal title is the issue that lies at the heart of our current disputes out here in British Columbia and that the recognition of title belongs with the rights-entitled holders, who are the hereditary chiefs.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would be happy to see that occur. I do note that we have the language of harmonization and consistency. The Treaty of Niagara, a treaty that was a part of the formation of Canada in the central part of the country, talked about peace and friendship and respect. I think there's a long constitutional tradition of striving to live together in that fashion.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I would agree and say that the orientation is also welcome. Sometimes there's an assumption that indigenous peoples are diametrically opposed, adversarial, or at odds with the way that we want to see ourselves develop as peoples living in this country. The notion of consistency communicates that very important and powerful ethos that we can strive to live together in ways that are complementary and congruent with one another, other, as opposed to being inconsistent and out of step with one another.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I have nothing further to add.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think what happens here is it implements our Constitution, and so in that respect it's connected. Of course, the bill could be changed by a subsequent Parliament, and so it's not constitutional in that regard. Another party might entertain other ways to implement UNDRIP. In relation to the former question, I think you're right, in that there are going to be differences of opinion around what FPIC means.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I agree, and I would add that when legislation is passed by the House, it has an enforcement component to it. I think that we rightly spend a lot of our time thinking through the implications in relation to enforcement, but this legislation also has an educative function. To the extent UNDRIP is mentioned not only in Bill C-262 but also in legislation dealing with environmental assessment, it will help to perform that task of educating the public—those who are involved in and have to live in accordance with the assessment regime—that indeed UNDRIP is live and is a part of that process as well.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Good afternoon, everyone. I'm thankful for the opportunity to be here today. I want to speak in the language of this territory, just to introduce myself. [Witness speaks in Anishinaabemowin] I just introduced myself as being from the Cape Croker Indian Reserve on the shores of Georgian Bay, in Ontario.