Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for that. When I think back about the previous legislation by the Conservatives and it being challenged by first nations, I'm afraid that this is going to be the same type of thing that's going to happen. It's going to roll out, and we're going to have nations such mine that are not happy being put in that little box continually.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for the question. When it comes to consultation, my friend here said that the AFN has been privy to that, and some other organizations. I know Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation hasn't been part of that. When it comes to consultation, AFN in particular, out of Alberta.... We're not participatory.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, that's part of the issue that we have with it, because it's always a top-down approach. In Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, we've always been like a little brother always asking for help, and this type of thing. I would like that to change, and have us at the table when we talk about source water.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for that. I talked about our treaty and our box. I've been in this position for two years, and it's relatively new. When I say that I'm not a politician, I know that one of my elders said, “You are, because you are in your position.” When I learn of the atrocities that our people have faced over 125 years....

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  It's housing. It's jobs. It's all of that. That's how you fix it. You fix it one piece at a time, but all together. In my community we're taking some steps towards that, but we need some assistance, and some partnership. We need the other side to uphold their obligations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. That is correct.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are a few examples. We don't need the law to implement a treaty. We need recognition of treaty jurisdiction. That was already done in the Constitution Act of 1982. What we need is what the courts have been calling for in B.C. and Ontario, and even the Supreme Court. We need the court to honourably and diligently implement the promises.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, I agree with that.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  For a lot of those challenges that we're facing in the first nation—I speak for my first nation alone, as I am chief of Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation—those sentiments are throughout, whether we're talking about co-legislation, development of health or water. It's everything. From where I sit, we are at a disadvantage in every aspect.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I agree with those sentiments. Minister Hajdu came out to Treaty 6 territory in Edmonton. I expressed those same sentiments and concerns, that Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation was not properly consulted when this was developed. I was not in the seat that I sit in today. With everything that faces our first nation communities, we haven't had the opportunity to really take a deep dive into this until now.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I absolutely believe that it should have the first nation's consent, as I mentioned, on the signing of a treaty. That's one thing that's been forgotten by Canada. They put us in a box and they forgot about us. Without going into too many details surrounding that whole concept, I absolutely agree that first nations should be party to those decisions.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Tansi. Honourable members of Parliament, I'm Sheldon Sunshine. I'm the chief of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation in Treaty 8 territory. Thank you for this invitation to speak about Bill C-61. Before I begin, I'd like to acknowledge that I'm speaking on the unceded lands of the Algonquin people.