THE STANDING SENATE COMMITTEE ON ABORIGINAL PEOPLES

MINUTES OF PROCEEDINGS

OTTAWA, Friday, May 28, 2021
(6)

[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, Cotter, Coyle, Forest-Niesing, Francis, Hartling, LaBoucane-Benson, MacDonald, Pate, Patterson, Stewart Olsen and Tannas (13).

Other senators present by videoconference: The Honourable Senators Dalphond and McCallum (2).

Participating in the meeting: Joëlle Nadeau, Procedural Clerk, 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):

Government of New Brunswick:

The Honourable Arlene Dunn, M.L.A., Minister of Aboriginal Affairs.

Confederacy of Treaty Six First Nations:

Okimaw Vernon Watchmaker, Grand Chief.

Fort McKay First Nation:

Mel Grandjamb, Chief;

Mike Evans, Senior Manager, Government Relations;

Chris Johnson, Chief Executive Officer.

O'Chiese First Nation:

Douglas Beaverbones, Chief;

Beatrice Carpentier, Band Manager;

Norma Large, Legal Technician.

As individuals:

Dr. Mauro Barelli, City, University of London;

Dwight Newman, Professor of Law & Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Rights, University of Saskatchewan;

Romeo Saganash.

First Nations Leadership Council of British Columbia:

Terry Teegee, Regional Chief;

Merle Alexander, Legal Counsel.

First Nations Major Projects Coalition:

Mark Podlasly, Director of Economic Policy and Initiatives.

Indian Resource Council of Canada:

Stephen Buffalo, President and Chief Executive Officer.

Alexander First Nation:

George Arcand Jr., Chief.

Indigenous Resource Network:

Arnie Bellis, Chair.

National Coalition of Chiefs:

Dale Swampy, President.

The chair made a statement.

Ms. Dunn, Mr. Watchmaker, Mr. Grandjamb and Mr. Beaverbones made statements and answered questions.

At 11 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 11:03 a.m., the committee resumed.

Dr. Barelli, Mr. Newman and Mr. Saganash made statements and answered questions.

At 12 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 2 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Teegee, Mr. Podlasly and Mr. Buffalo made statements and answered questions.

At 3:01 p.m., the committee suspended.

At 3:03 p.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Arcand, Mr. Bellis, and Mr. Swampy made statements and answered questions.

At 3:56 p.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

Attest:

Andrea Mugny

Clerk of the committee