Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Indeed, I think so, for personal reasons. I live in a community where I am raising my five children and I see injustice, violence, discrimination. It is a lovely community, but I do not even have the right to vote, because I am not a member. There are a thousand and one reasons.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I saw in the media last October that his colleague gave me a business card. I heard about it, but I got no personal invitation. I have to be frank also: I didn't knock on his door, because I thought that it would pass, that it would never get to this stage. See, I'm learning too about politics.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I probably would have, but with more passion. We'd be face-to-face and with a coffee maybe, but with the same concern—French, English, it doesn't matter. But yes, we would bring the same advice, and even more because of the time.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes. But please don't quote me saying that I approve of the legislation.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much. It is extremely important to equip our national organization and all our regions so that, in our communities, we can speak freely and comfortably about what could be a project of society or a project in a region. We also feel that it is necessary to stop making all projects the same, as if all native peoples were the same.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much, Ms. Crowder. These are indeed fragmentary approaches. I urge the committee to abandon this legislation or project. I urge you to do this. We can do something else that will be in collaboration with the native women of Canada—I won't speak on behalf of the other organizations.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In conclusion, I would say to you once again that you now have a unique opportunity for us to work together. I am talking here, about the organizations, in particular the Native Women’s Association of Canada. You are expressing the will to change the reality of native peoples. Why not do this with us?

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much. [Witness speaks in her native language.] I wish to thank our host nation, the Anishinabe Nation, for welcoming us to its territory, now shared, on which many times, many moccasins from across Canada have come to remind the federal government of the reality of the aboriginal peoples.