Thank you, Mr. Chair.
Thank you, Mr. Shanks, for coming in today to testify.
One of the things we really noticed during our study and when we went on committee travel.... My portion of the travel was through Muskeg Lake, Whitecap, going to Westbank First Nation, Penticton, and then over to Osoyoos. And one of the main conclusions....
The theme of your paper is economic development. Chief Clarence Louie's main theme—and he was a strong proponent—was jobs, jobs, jobs, and keep people working, get them working, get them off the social assistance, and get them out of the Indian Act. He was quite passionate about that.
I'm reading your conclusion here on page 20. You indicated in one comment that “Serious effort should be undertaken to engage First Nations in defining success.” You point out—and other first nations leaders have stated this throughout at least 50 or 60 years—that the smothering culture of dependency to a positive, future-oriented culture of self-sufficiency.... You also indicated that “Governments at all levels must resist the long-standing urges to impose paternalistic solutions. Governments must find ways to break the ‘fiduciary grid-lock' to constructively engage and share risks with First Nations as partners.”
We're seeing a lot of that, such as in Westbank, where they're doing the box stores. We're seeing one first nation in Penticton just beginning the process of development. You see that in Osoyoos, where they have a very strong leader. You mentioned that one of the main principles for economic development is to have a strong governance. We see a strong leader and a governance of Westbank in place. They are becoming more economically independent. We heard witness testimony of $1.4 billion worth of assets in Westbank First Nations. That's a huge benefit to first nations.
We're seeing that mentality or that desire of other first nations to come through. We're seeing that testimony here today, or last week when we had first nations from northern Saskatchewan. They're purchasing TLE land. They're finding resources for development in the urban centres of Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Regina, Yorkton, throughout Saskatchewan. Some of them are actually partnering in other provinces as economic development.
What are first nations looking for in economic development, and how do they envision their success?