Thank you.
I thank you all very much for being here today.
As you're all undoubtedly aware, this is the first day of what will be, I suspect, a very substantial study on the question of violence against aboriginal women.
Before I ask a question, let me take the opportunity to publicly acknowledge Sisters In Spirit and the spectacular report they tabled today. I've had the opportunity to read it. It's comprehensive, detailed, and thoughtful, and it encompasses a whole host of issues. Congratulations to you on the work you've done, particularly on bringing the issue of the missing and murdered aboriginal women to light. It's just excellent.
I have so many questions that I don't know where to begin. Some of them are small, detailed ones, and some of them are sort of overarching larger questions. Because you are the first group we've had here to talk on the issue, I'm going to identify a couple of overarching issues and then ask whoever wants to comment to speak to them.
When I read the Sisters In Spirit report I was struck, Ms. Rexe, by your detailed discussion on the impact of colonization on women and communities.
I'll ask any one of you who wants to answer to speak to the issue of colonization, residential schools, and the impact that's had on women. That's one issue.
If we have time, I'd like you to talk about some of the root social issues you deal with.
Pauktuutit, you talked about housing and the challenges of housing. I've been in a number of first nations communities and have seen first-hand the challenges of housing. I was in the Northwest Territories and was flabbergasted by the cost of housing. I saw the shelters that women didn't move out of because they had nowhere to go, and the challenges of that. I'd like some comments on that.
I know it's a faraway issue, but how important do you see Canada's endorsement of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples? Many have been calling for it for a very long time. I'd like some comments.
So let's start with those three. I suspect there won't even be time for that.