Looking out for our indigenous people: The Canadian experience

Respected Elders Djerrkura and Dodson, distinguished guests, ladies and gen tlemen, good afternoon. My Aboriginal name is Pad8gi Pai8, which means 'Com ing Thunder' in the Abenaki language and I am a member of the Odanak Band o f the Abenaki First Nation. I want to acknowledge and thank the traditional caretakers of the land we stand on today, the Larrakia People Meegwetch. I am truly honoured to be here with you today and want to take this opportun ity to thank the Institute of Public Administration Australia (IPAA) and th e Commonwealth Association for Public Administration and Management (CAPAM) for inviting me.