Thank you.
I was listening to the discussion going on here just now and reflecting on the legislated racism that exists in this country.
You can start with the Indian Act. An effort to amend the Indian Act was Bill C-31. That in itself is a legislated genocide. Someday, if my daughter or granddaughter decides to marry somebody of a different race, their children will lose their identity. That's racism. It was supposed to respond to the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. However, in effect, it is legislated genocide in this country. Nobody speaks about these issues because they have become normal for Canadian society.
You talked about terrorism. I was terrorized at an institution in this country for many years. Everybody turned a blind eye to that. When will our people stop having to go to court to be heard and respected? You're sitting around here talking about terrorism in this country, and for certain groups to be put on a list and recognized as terrorists. Well, that's happening to our people, too. When we advance our interests, all of a sudden we're criminalized. We're turned into boogeymen. There is something wrong with that picture.
When I talk about the scars on my body, I'm talking about scars from these institutions of racism and genocide.
Thank you.