Housing. Health. Infrastructure. Land claim negotiations. Meaningful consultation.

Those issues were top of mind as Indigenous leaders laid out their priorities with the new crop of MLAs in the Tree of Life Friendship Centre on Thursday. Over the course of the day, the leaders gave the new MLAs crash courses on their individual nations and communities, often aiming to break with some of the lingering frustration from past governments.

SA国际影视传媒淭hings got to change,SA国际影视传媒� Dene National Chief Norman Yakeleya told the assembled MLAs, adding that the SA国际影视传媒渟tatus quo is no longer acceptable.SA国际影视传媒�

His remarks were often repeated, urging action on land claim negotiations, health issues and warning of looming challenges: climate change, expanded healthcare costs of an aging population, in addition to a bevy of other issues facing the new and returning MLAs.

SA国际影视传媒淚'm certainly glad I'm not in your seat,SA国际影视传媒� Yakeleya joked with the MLAs.

Among the most important issues, however, he said was the protection of the territory's water as it heads into the future.

Gwich'in Grand Chief Bobbi Jo Greenland-Morgan followed-up later, also calling for action on self-government negotiations, while noting persistent under funding of treaty efforts.

SA国际影视传媒淲e don't want token consultations,SA国际影视传媒� she said. SA国际影视传媒淲e want meaningful consultations.SA国际影视传媒�

She demanded the discontinuation of SA国际影视传媒渂and aid solutionsSA国际影视传媒� SA国际影视传媒� especially on housing. For her, that included building new units, not replacements for those fallen into disrepair. She also voiced the need for more support on language revitalization as the Gwich'in Tribal Council seeks to expand its speaker base, which numbered 375 people as of the 2011 census.

Most of them are over 40 and live around the Beaufort Delta, leaving it one of the most endangered Indigenous languages in Canada, according to the GwichSA国际影视传媒檌n Tribal CouncilSA国际影视传媒檚 Department of Cultural Heritage.

Other leaders, like Duane Smith, Chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, appeared weary as the meeting took place.

SA国际影视传媒淲e've tried this in the past with little success,SA国际影视传媒� he told the MLAs seated around him.

He said SA国际影视传媒渢rust really fell of the tableSA国际影视传媒� with previous government efforts, and that the leaders had already been raising their rights for 35 years as they sat for Thursday's talks.

Referencing the United Nations' Declaration of Rights of Indigenous Peoples SA国际影视传媒� which Canada has not officially implemented SA国际影视传媒� Smith demanded that the gathered governments be involved in the legislation affecting them.

He added other concerns: for example, a contract in Inuvik going to a firm in British Columbia (SA国际影视传媒渁 slap in the face of the [region's] two land claims,SA国际影视传媒� he said) and the current status of legal aid in his represented communities (SA国际影视传媒渁 farceSA国际影视传媒�).

Meanwhile, Doug Lamalice of K'atl'odeeche First Nation, brought up economic concerns, saying development was good, but that it had to be done with SA国际影视传媒淚ndigenous inclinations,SA国际影视传媒� he said.

Hanging over all the talks, however, was concerns with stalled efforts over negotiations, and Yakeleya's statement: SA国际影视传媒渢ime to settle (the) land claims.SA国际影视传媒�