Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, we did emerge as a new community. I always think of ourselves as the new Canadians, the first Canadians, the merging of cultures. Distinctly we have our own language, culture, values, and all of those sorts of things, and the history of our people, which is so important to look at.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Bill C-92 is at its beginning. Right now, we're doing an environmental community scan by engaging our communities to see what the gaps are and why kids are being taken. When you think about child and family services, you don't just think about children and families; you think about what impacts those families: housing, the high cost of food, the ability to care for them in a clean environment and all those things.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  To add to what Margaret was saying, we are opening up the door. We have an expert panel. We would love to hear cogent arguments about how they see this bill in any way impacting them or any of their rights. We talk about what it does do, but I feel as though, when we're talking about this, we need to talk about what it doesn't do.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I really don't have anything to add. I think Margaret and Andrea have said what I would say.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay, how long is this afternoon?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll tell you, our communities are struggling. We are in the process of working outside of this with Bill C-92. It really is looking at what is happening to our communities, why the kids are being taken, and what kinds of services these kids have. We've heard time and time again—and I'm sure everybody hears it across Canada—about mental health services for children.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay. I don't know that I can get into it because it was a letter sent to Métis Nation of Ontario. We all have the national definition, which we follow. I think the bigger issue was about those who didn't fit within that national definition, if I've read that right. Margaret has indicated to you that they had 5,000 members who didn't fit that definition and are no longer part of their organization.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I can only say that we have been frustrated. We've had dates. I think it was supposed to go in on April 19, and then apparently there were some things happening, and then finally we ended up at the last day before you guys recessed for the summer. I think we would be as interested to know the answer to that question as you are, and that question should be directed at Canada, because we have co-developed this.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay. Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Can I just add—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you. I just want to quickly say that this is not just a Métis problem: This is a first nations, Métis and Inuit problem. We're looking in the news now. Two girls who claimed to be Inuit actually benefited by getting money to go to university. One way we're dealing with it in Saskatchewan is that we have signed a number of agreements.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's okay. You can call me Michelle. I guess I would answer that in this way. If the legislation, as Andrea was talking about, affects only their members—remember, we talked about verifiable systems to get membership—there is nothing stopping, in my view, Fort McKay, as a community, to sit as a federal government.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay, 'bye.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll give you an example. We have, in Canada, a number of non-status Indians who could maybe get status on a reserve in Ontario, and they choose not to. They don't like the system and the process, but that's their choice. It comes back to talking about rights and individual rights when we're talking about UNDRIP and the right to decide who you are and what organization you belong to.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.