With the tabling of the Liberal government's budget on Tuesday, Canada's First Nations feel it's a step in the right direction. That's from Long Plain First Nation Chief Dennis Meeches.

"I have to tell you I'm very, very pleased with the federal budget, because it addresses a lot of outstanding funding related issues for indigenous people right across the country. There's been a lot of challenges related to housing water infrastructure. Long Plain is no different. We have a situation in Long Plain where our infrastructure has to be upgraded. We can't even build any more new homes in the Long Plain first nation through the Canada Mortgage Housing Corporation because we just don't have the capacity. We've outgrown that capacity. We put in the water lines and the water system back in 1994. It's supposed to last us 20 years. At the 12th or 13th year we were already at capacity. So, of course you're doing a lot of development within the city, but out in Long Plain we have a great need for housing infrastructure. So we're pleased with that part of it."

Meeches says the education segment of the budget's also welcomed news.

"We're also pleased with the education portion of the budget whereby the post secondary cap is going to be lifted. And that's been in place since 1992 I believe, or '94. So, it's been a long time. And of course we have a huge waiting list on post secondary funding. So, that'll provide some relief to us. They're also lifting a two per cent cap on general funding in terms of core funding, I guess. We have a five year block funding arrangement with the Government. That doesn't meet our needs because, of course, our population growth far exceeds that funding base."

He adds child welfare was even more good news.

"I'm also happy about the child welfare component. There's a big gap in education funding in terms of what's received for first nations people on reserves as opposed to, say, provincial schools. Hopefully that gap will be closed. So, overall, 8.4 billion over five years is very welcomed news for indigenous people. Over time we'll look at this. It's going to be rolling out over five years. I think it's a start in the right direction."

Meeches notes time is of the essence as well.

"Our concern is how fast can it reach the first nation governments. The sooner the better because, again, I can tell you there are serious challenges in first nation communities. Long Plain is fortunate. We have the benefit of living close to the City of Portage, and we have urban reserves in Portage and Winnipeg, and hopefully Kapyong is not far down the road. Young first nations indigenous people want to work. They want jobs. So, we have to provide a key to open that door for the indigenous population. With this federal government we can see there's going to be a real partnership with them over the next five years."

Meeches thanks Canadians for voting for the Liberals.

"For Canada as a whole, I think Canadians should be fairly receptive to this. Canadians wanted a change in government, and I think Canadians knew what they were in for, and in store for, when they voted the Liberal government in, that this was what was going to be delivered to Canada. I have to thank the Canadian people for recognizing the indigenous population of this country also needs to be seriously considered. Under the Harper government for ten years it was basically a real struggle with the gutting of a lot of the programs -- cutting back. It was not a good place to be, I can tell you."