Thank you, Madam Chair.
Let me begin by thanking all of you for coming out today. Thank you for your very personal and professional stories.
I have so many questions, but I'm going to keep them brief at the moment and hope that if we don't get the opportunity, I might have an opportunity to meet with you individually at another time. I live here, so we can pick up on it.
Yesterday we were in Prince Albert and we visited an organization. I asked them about their funding, how they stayed alive. The executive director of the organization must have cited 20 different grants that they got to keep afloat. My response to her was “You must spend an awful lot of time writing proposals.”
I have a couple of questions I'll put out and then let you answer them.
We represent the federal government. In your mind, what can the federal government do, in concrete terms, to address some of the issues you're facing? I guess I'm focusing on funding in that respect.
My second question is directed to Leslie. Leslie, we've heard a lot about colonization, the impact of the residential schools, and whatever. A number of initiatives have been taken over the past years, and whether it's enough—well, it's not enough. Do you have any concrete suggestions in terms of addressing the issues of colonization?
My third question is also to you, and it's a question that came up yesterday from the chair. We've talked a lot about domestic violence in the hearings across the country. I expect that is going to dominate the discussions because it is so prevalent. You also referenced violence against women of other kinds. I would welcome an expansion of that.
I'll leave it there. If I have more time, I have more questions.