Good morning, everyone. I'm going to call this meeting to order.
Thank you so much for coming. I don't know if you know exactly what this committee is doing, but according to something known as Standing Order 108(2), we are looking at a study of violence against aboriginal women.
We're looking at violence against aboriginal women from a broad perspective. We're looking at the root causes of that violence and how it has lasted for such a long time. We're looking at the extent of it and what sorts of violence we are talking about--is it simply one sort of violence? We don't want to talk about domestic violence only; we want to talk about all the violence--psychological, physical, and sexual--and discrimination, if there is any, which is a form of violence. We want to discuss the whole broad scope of violence as you see it.
Secondly, we wanted to look at ways in which we can remedy it. Now, understanding that government cannot remedy anything with regard to aboriginal people--there is a long history--what are the things we can put in place that would assist aboriginal women especially, as well as men and families, to be able to achieve some sort of life free from this abnormal level of violence? We understand that this abnormal level of violence is three times the level of violence against non-aboriginal women in Canada even though aboriginals make up only 3% of the population.
We have four groups. Normally each group has about 10 minutes, give or take, whatever you feel comfortable with, to just tell us about what you think under those headings. Then we will have some questions and answers and have an interaction. If you hear a question and you believe you have something to say, you can jump in and answer.
Even though it is a formal meeting, we're trying to make it as informal as possible to make everyone feel comfortable with being very open and frank about what they want to discuss.
From the Assembly of the First Nations of Quebec and Labrador, we have with us Grand Chief Anne Archambault.
Will you begin, please? You have with you Monsieur Savard, who is your conseiller en prévention. Both of you can decide how you want to present. I'll give you a two-minute warning if you are going for very long.