NDP MP Romeo Saganash poses for a photo on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on January 16, 2013. Andre Forget/QMI Agency

OTTAWA —  NDP MP Romeo Saganash, who has been on medical leave since October to deal with a dependence on alcohol, has returned to work during the thrust of nationwide First Nations demonstrations.

The number 1 thing required to mend the relationship between First Nations and the feds is "political will," said Saganash, who is Cree.

"If (political will) is not there, I think this is going to continue," he said.