Thank you so much, Chair.
It's a real honour for me, a humbling honour for me, to be able to be here today and take part in this particular session.
I want to thank Senator McCallum for the beautiful work that you've done in presenting this, giving credit to those you appreciate and love and doing this on their behalf. Thank you.
I have also the privilege of knowing Chief George Cote. Cote First Nation is in my riding. I have not met Isabella and her father yet, and I look forward to that on January 4. The invitation has been extended, and it's on my calendar. I'm looking forward to that very much.
I have to say, Chief George, that right from the first time I met you and those in your community, it was very clear that there was a sense of pride in who you are and a desire to be conciliatory and work together. My first event was going out to the first nations school there and talking with grade 4 students, as I thought, about Canada. Arriving there, I found out that it wasn't just the grade 4 students. Everybody was in the room, including parents, and it was an opportunity to talk about what we share.
The excitement in the room was real, and I had an opportunity to share things like the forum for young Canadians and that they could, as they got older, enlist and possibly be part of that. Parents were writing that down. I was honest. I said, “I don't know what I'm supposed to be doing here. What should I be doing to show my respect in the room? How do I tell who an elder is?” and this kind of thing. They were just so remarkable in interacting with me. It was a real privilege and a sense of belonging, I have to say.
I want to thank you for the way that you really brought me into your community and shared very real experiences there, the very good and sometimes the very hard.
I would like to ask you and Isabella's father Christopher a question. I'll just mention my background is Ukrainian. Seeing that combination here is very exciting for me as well.
I would like you to go a little further in sharing why you went the route you did and how reconciliation can take place out of a very dire and hurtful circumstance and bring the healing that was able to be brought because of the choices made throughout that whole circumstance.
Chief George and Christopher, if you would be willing, that would be wonderful. Thank you.