It may be true that I have a longer and broader experience in negotiating land claim (treaty) and other agreements with Canadian Aboriginal groups and First Nations than any other person. Over three decades I have participated in a dozen treaty negotiations across Arctic Canada and in B.C. and made contributions to a number of treaty settlements, including negotiating the fisheries chapters of the second modern treaty (the Western Arctic (Inuvialuit), 1984, and the latest (the Yale First Nation Treaty).When not negotiating treaties I was: Negotiating fisheries management agreements and managing finances and policy for the Aboriginal Fisheries Strategy; Developing Memoranda to Cabinet and Treasury Board Submissions, together with briefings to senior management; Working with First Nations and Aboriginal groups to develop policy, strategic plans and in economic development; Participating in resource management boards (founding Chairman, Fisheries Joint Management Committee, Baffin Island Beluga Management Committee).Although I began as a fisheries specialist, I have broadened my expertise to include strategic planning and negotiation in a wide range of areas, mostly relating to economic development. My most recent interest is project management. Although I cannot claim to “know what First Nations want” (I don’t believe anyone except, perhaps, some First Nations can) I have a proven record of successful dealings in a First Nations environment. It must be understood that this is a complex environment, with great differences between communities and between people within communities. I believe my defining characteristics are the knowledge, experience and sensitivity needed to understand the needs of Aboriginal, government and business communities and the imagination to use that understanding in arriving at enduring, workable agreements.