In 2015, NWT MP Michael McLeod entered the House of Commons in a Liberal majority that swept into power after nine years of Conservative government.

Four years later, with another election looming in the fall and the territory celebrating Indigenous Peoples Day, News/North spoke with the MP about his work with Indigenous governments and plans for a possible second term.

SA国际影视传媒淩econciliation is part of our responsibilities, he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e committed to moving forward on it. The process will take quite a while. There's many issues and many things that have evolved over long periods of time that will take time to fix.SA国际影视传媒�

In addition to policy on Indigenous language and child welfare, he cited Bill C-88 SA国际影视传媒� which reverses a Harper government move to replace all the territory's land and water boards with one SA国际影视传媒渟uperboardSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� as a step forward by his government.

Meanwhile, Bill C-262, which aims to align Canadian laws with the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples (UNDRIP) has hit delays and lingers in the Senate. Conservative representatives say it will have unintended consequences and lead to Indigenous peoples having a SA国际影视传媒渧etoSA国际影视传媒� over natural resource projects.

SA国际影视传媒淚 don't see it as a veto and I don't think people should see it as a threat,SA国际影视传媒� McLeod said. SA国际影视传媒淏ill C-88 and the whole regulatory process in the NWT is a good example of UNDRIP in action.SA国际影视传媒�

McLeod added that the bill is more concerned with Indigenous peoples participating in the process.

SA国际影视传媒淚 think there's a lot of conspiracy theories, a lot of people that don't have faith in Indigenous people,SA国际影视传媒� McLeod said. SA国际影视传媒淚 certainly don't feel that way.SA国际影视传媒�

He said the past four years were an effort for SA国际影视传媒済ood communication with all levels of government.SA国际影视传媒�

He said he tries to attend as many Indigenous government assemblies as possible and that there's been progress with reconciliation, despite being SA国际影视传媒渘ot completely where we want to be.SA国际影视传媒�

When taking office in 2015, he said negotiations and discussions were at SA国际影视传媒済round-zeroSA国际影视传媒� because of the previous government and its approach.

SA国际影视传媒淚t's too slow SA国际影视传媒� for everybody,SA国际影视传媒� he said of reconciliation. SA国际影视传媒淣ot only the Indigenous people, but everybody in the territory would like to see things happen faster.SA国际影视传媒�

McLeod pointed to forgiveness and reimbursement of debt from negotiating comprehensive land claims SA国际影视传媒� amounting to $1.4 billion SA国际影视传媒� as a positive step for Indigenous governments.

However, he said, the Indigenous governments of the Northwest Territories have a challenge in that the Crown-Indigenous Relations mandate is not clear or broad enough to include all Indigenous peoples in the Northwest Territories.

SA国际影视传媒淭he mandate specifies on-reserve,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淲e're always challenged when it comes to working directly with (Indigenous) affairs departments.SA国际影视传媒�

On facilitating direct discussion with Indigenous governments, he said he hopes modern treaty holders and Metis governments make similar headway as their counterparts with settled self-governments.

SA国际影视传媒淚f it's one thing I'd like to see happen, it's to do a better job on getting the nation-to-nation concept operating a lot better in the North,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

As he heads into another election, McLeod said a consistent priority will be SA国际影视传媒渉ealthy people living in healthy communitiesSA国际影视传媒� and SA国际影视传媒減roviding a good future for our youth.SA国际影视传媒�

SA国际影视传媒淭here's many, many things we have to deal with. We have to deal with cost of living. We have to deal with infrastructure. We need to have strong Indigenous governments that are working shoulder-to-shoulder with other governments,SA国际影视传媒� he said.