Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  [Applause]

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  I see you.

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  Exactly. I'm calling from my first nation community, Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam.

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  My helpers are my twins. They'll be well prepared to take over NWAC pretty soon. They're following me everywhere. Thank you very much. I only see you, Madam Ambler, but I want to say hello to everybody. I am sure everybody is there; I hope so.

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  Thank you. So I guess I shall start, madame la députée?

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  I have to say that I am really proud and happy to be in my own territory, the Innu territory, which is Uashat Mak Mani-Utenam. Another nice thing to say is that the band office is giving me this space so that I can speak to you. It's coming from my heart, and also coming from the grassroots community, from where things are happening every day, which I witness, or I listen to women and they help me.

Special Committee on Violence Against Indigenous Women committee  Okay, I'm glad to hear that. It's important that it's official and everybody is witnessing. I'm glad that it was also discussed, that it's going to stay there and it's going to be used for recommendations, etc. The other question I have right now is why the Conservatives, this government, after....

Special Committee on Indigenous Women committee  Okay. I'll tell you later.

Special Committee on Indigenous Women committee  We have to remember that many years ago, our own men were denying that it was a reality in our communities. Today we notice that we have more and more aboriginal men supporting our fight on this matter. There are many solutions, but because of time constraints I will just say that we need role models, men and women, and we need to make sure that they are talking to their brothers and saying that there is zero tolerance for violence within our communities.

Special Committee on Indigenous Women committee  This summer there will be a meeting of the Council of the Federation, where all premiers will meet here in Ontario. We had a discussion last week with the minister responsible for status of women in Ontario, Madam Broten. I told her that economic development for aboriginal women is one of the keys.

Special Committee on Indigenous Women committee  Mr. Saganash, I can see your lawyer's side coming out. It's clear for us. How many times have we been disappointed in many areas, with respect to certain files, because the roles and responsibilities of each party haven't been made official? We are calling on you today. We would like an official agreement in writing and have it respected so that there is no disappointment, no misunderstanding or misinterpretation.

Special Committee on Indigenous Women committee  I will also let Irene speak. I think it is important that the committee chair and I dialogue as often as possible about this. I am game for exchange and dialogue. Perhaps I will have to disagree with her, and it is healthy and normal to disagree, but I want to feel that I am a stakeholder in the process where we are addressing issues of human dignity and human lives.

Special Committee on Indigenous Women committee  Ms. Bennett, I must first tell you that we don't have the financial or human resources capacity to meet with all the families. It would be pretentious of us to tell you it's what the families want. So it is important to be cautious. However, we do have a network of families who are willing to testify.

Special Committee on Indigenous Women committee  What do you mean? I'm sorry.

Special Committee on Indigenous Women committee  I also ask these questions of the women I meet on a daily basis during my travels. The problems in an extremely isolated community will not be the same as in a much more urban one, but the violence is deeply rooted. In some regions, I'm told that substance abuse and mental health are major problems.