I did 100%, and I want to finish with that. We are Canadian as well. Métis is what Canada became about. We were here before Canada was even a confederation. It's about the mosaic. It's about the melting pot of Canada, and it's our time to be heard and say who we are.
I'm a strong voice, I am, but, to be a strong voice, I had to come through fire. I had to come through storms, and I have. I have many scars on my face and my body to show that, but those are hockey scars. I'm willing to go to battle even in that when I speak that because I come from a family who knows who we are.
My grandfather said, “Api Nah pay shish.” He would say to sit down and never forget who you come from and who you are. I never knew what he meant by that until later in my life, because he had to struggle. He says that we're the poor cousins in this country. Our first nations brothers and sisters are being heard, and we're not.
Thank you.