The federal government handed down a budget earlier this week that pledged $5 billion to help improve the living conditions on the First Nation reserves across the country. 

"I think this will impact us favourably," Chief, Nathan Pasap. "We always look to seize every opportunity that we have in regards to poverty mitigation and also in regards to self-government. We would look to possibly be able to have a facility to help families struggling with children who are in care and the parents who may have issues, we can help them get on their two feet and get their kids back in their care of stay within the family."

Pasap added that the biggest priority for them has been the housing situation.

"We need to address that issue. We have overcrowding. The floods that happened a number of years ago, we're dealing with a lot of mould issues in our homes. We're hoping that we can make some good leeway in that area."

"Over the last few years, we had lobbied for a water treatment plant upgrade and we have seen that come to fruition so we're hoping in the summer, it will be fully operational. It's being constructed right now so that was one of the issues that was a really big issue for White Bear."

He added that he hopes to take a closer look in the coming days so to see how it will look to affect First Nations across the country.

"We don't know the specifics yet. I was hoping to get an executive summary of it in regards to how they're rolling it out. But I think there is an investment in child welfare which is much needed given the amount of kids that are in care in many of the provincial systems."

"Also significant investment in water purification facilities throughout the different Nations throughput Canada. And also housing and governance. Third World housing on many First Nations is a reality so they invested some there."

"There were hopes that there would be a lot more investment given the housing crisis in many First Nations, there's mould issues, overcrowding and very poor conditions overall."

"Prime Minister Trudeau and the Liberal Government have essentially made it a priority in regards to looking at First Nations taking over more of the self-government aspect in regards to healthcare, service delivery and citizenship."

"The potential is there to help us significantly if we do our part and work collaboratively with the federal government."