Status of Women committee  I think we often have to think outside the box in terms of prevention strategies. Some of the things we've identified as emerging issues relate to fetal alcohol spectrum disorder, as well as issues of human trafficking and sexual exploitation of women, and changing the language around how we identify victims and what the solutions or possibilities for solutions might be.

Status of Women committee  We have been speaking with the RCMP and also working with the Winnipeg Police Service. One of the areas around identification concerns police not feeling comfortable asking the question, not being trained in a way to be culturally appropriate. That's where one of the barriers is.

Status of Women committee  I'd like to make just a very quick comment. You asked about why you don't have the evidence, why the standing committee has not been provided with the evidence. I think it has been very clear, and it has been acknowledged by others, even by other groups here at the table, that the Native Women's Association of Canada has been providing the evidence.

Status of Women committee  There are very few cases where we have actually collected information whether...women have been involved in the sex trade, but for those who have been, we do think there is a need for changing the discourse around the issue of sex trade work to look at it in terms of human trafficking and promote the rights of women, and particularly the safety of women who are working in street-level prostitution and other forms of trafficking, whether it be the drug trade or human trafficking.

Status of Women committee  Yes, and we do produce annual reports, often in excess of 300 pages, that are given back to Status of Women.

Status of Women committee  Absolutely.

Status of Women committee  It's about outcomes, impact, action--

Status of Women committee  Quickly, I can just say that I don't think there are any supports there. We need to actually work together and have the advice of those who are working in communities and with families to say exactly what needs to be there to help.

Status of Women committee  The numbers specifically refer to the number of new cases identified since the report last year, which was released in April 2009. Of the 62 cases, 27 are cases from January 2009 to approximately February 2010. There are 27 new cases from the previous 13 or 14 months. The remaining cases of those 62 are actually from information collected that can be identified to relate to previous years, based on archival research and additional information that has been found as we searched through secondary sources, police reports, and so on and so forth.

Status of Women committee  For the years 2000 to 2008 we did a trend analysis relating the information on known cases of murdered aboriginal women to homicide rates for all women in Canada. We found that between 2000 and 2008, there was a very similar trend in terms of the homicide trends in Canada. Essentially, it follows the same trend line over this decade.

Status of Women committee  Actually, no; unfortunately, we have not heard any word on what this funding will be or how it might be allocated in Canada. I do understand that it is under the Minister of Justice's responsibilities. We don't know what role NWAC will play, but we do hope that the knowledge, expertise, and leadership that have been shown by NWAC--specific to the issue of missing and murdered aboriginal women--will be recognized in how the money is allocated and that this information will be used to make sure that the resources are spent in the most meaningful way.

Status of Women committee  In Saskatchewan, there is aboriginal identity-specific information related to missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls. I do understand your point around the sensitivity of collecting information around ethnic identity and specific aboriginal identity. I think there has to be an ethical protocol that goes along with it, that supports a sensitivity and cultural need.

Status of Women committee  I'm not quite sure exactly how it got to that place in terms of collecting information on missing and murdered aboriginal women and girls. However, the RCMP in Saskatoon, I believe, had been working on a pilot project that was recently sort of quashed; it was to have had the ongoing collection based on aboriginal identity.

Status of Women committee  I'd like to reiterate what Ms. Tucker said. Yes, absolutely, there needs to be sustainability in funding for resources and services, especially front line services, but we also have to start to make a shift in consciousness of society to recognize and to revalue aboriginal women and honour the rights of aboriginal women and the history, the tradition, the role of aboriginal women as mothers, as caregivers, as educators.

Status of Women committee  I'll make a very quick comment on the last question, because we can share the report that was recently released addressing issues of colonization against aboriginal women in Canada. On the UN declaration, I can't speak as an authority for the Native Women's Association of Canada, but I do believe that if there is an endorsement of the UN declaration, tangible measures must be taken to ensure that the responsibilities and rights of aboriginal people, specifically first nations, Métis, and Inuit women, are recognized through the endorsement.