My focus is really British Columbia and, of course, we have a huge number of indigenous people in B.C. I've had the opportunity and honour to present to missing and murdered indigenous women and girls gatherings. The women and girls give me the information. I've also done many extra presentations to indigenous youth workers, Vancouver Native Education College, and House of the Moon. There are many opportunities. They are the ones who tell me what is going on.
What the doctor was just saying is true. Typically, the problem is mistrust of police. They certainly will not report. That is a big problem. These indigenous communities also live with complex PTSD. I didn't know much about complex PTSD. That's another level. That is generational trauma. That is what indigenous women and girls live with; it's generation to generation.
Their communities are not necessarily the healthiest or safest places either. They have certainly told me that. There is childhood sexual abuse and there is incest that often takes place. They don't feel safe or free to talk about it or report it. It's this ongoing cycle that tends to go on from generation to generation.
The wonderful news is that indigenous women and girls want a voice. They're learning that they have a voice. I encourage them to express their voice. Yes, they're severely overrepresented. It's not just in your area; it's right across the country, and certainly in B.C.
The sex industry is now targeting indigenous women and girls very specifically. I've had young indigenous girls tell me that it happens online, and these traffickers will simply offer free drugs and alcohol. That's all it takes; it doesn't take much.
This is what we have to deal with and I think education is really key. That is what we are missing.
I want to add that PCEPA deals with the root cause, the demand. We've got to deal with the buyers. We've got to deal with the men and boys who are exploiting and buying. We've got to reach men and boys. I say to men and boys, “There's a sacred part of the woman you have no right to.” I just said that to all the indigenous chiefs in B.C. That's where it's at. We have to deal with the root causes, and that is what this law does.