THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES
MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS
OTTAWA, Monday, May 10, 2021
(4)
[English]
Pursuant to the order of the Senate of March 30, 2021, the Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met, by videoconference, this day at 10 a.m. [ET], the chair, the Honourable Dan Christmas, presiding. This meeting is considered to have taken place in the parliamentary precinct.
Members of the committee present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Anderson, Christmas, Coyle, Forest-Niesing, Francis, Hartling, LaBoucane-Benson, MacDonald, Pate, Patterson, Stewart Olsen and Tannas (12).
Other senators present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Cotter, Duncan and McCallum (3).
Participating in the meeting: Joëlle Nadeau and Vincent Labrosse, Procedural Clerks, Committees Directorate; Sara Fryer and Brittany Collier, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.
Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.
Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, the committee continued its consideration of the subject matter of Bill C-15, An Act respecting the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples.
WITNESSES (by videoconference):
Indigenous Bar Association:
Drew Lafond, President;
Lori Mishibinijima, Board member.
Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador:
Ghislain Picard, Chief;
Mira Levasseur-Moreau, Political and Legal Advisor.
Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated:
Aluki Kotierk, President.
Champagne and Aishihik First Nations:
Steve Smith, Chief;
Alexa McClaren, Barrister & Solicitor.
As individuals:
Dr. Sheryl Lightfoot, Canada Research Chair of Global Indigenous Rights and Politics, University of British Columbia;
Dr. Wilton Littlechild;
Dr. Tom Flanagan, Professor, Emeritus of Political Science, University of Calgary;
Brenda Gunn, Professor, Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba;
Dr. Val Napoleon, Director, JD/JID program, Associate professor, Law Foundation Chair of Indigenous Justice and Governance, University of Victoria;
Jason T. Madden, Lawyer and Managing Partner, Pape Salter Teillet LLP;
Dr. Pamela Palmater, Chair in Indigenous Governance, Ryerson University.
The chair made a statement.
Ms. Lightfood, Mr. Littlechild and Mr. Lafond made statements and answered questions.
At 10:59 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 11 a.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Picard and Ms. Kotierk made statements and answered questions.
At 11:56 a.m., the committee suspended.
At 1:58 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Flanagan, Ms. Gunn and Ms. Napoleon made statements and answered questions.
At 2:56 p.m., the committee suspended.
At 2:58 p.m., the committee resumed.
Mr. Smith, Mr. Madden and Ms. Palmater made statements and answered questions.
At 3:58 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.
ATTEST:
Andrea Mugny
Clerk of the committee