We've allowed these young aboriginal girls to grow up in a world that continuously places them at risk to any and all imaginable and unimaginable abuses. For many young aboriginal girls, teens, and women, the future is rife with discrimination, victimization, and murder. For a growing number of others, we can only guess at their fate because no one ever hears from them again.
If we are to make any recommendations, Madam Chair, they would begin with seeking out and listening to aboriginal women. Their voices carry not just their stories, but also their strength and their wisdom.
Our next recommendation would include creating safe environments, affordable housing, food, and opportunities. These women could then come forward and know that perhaps for the first time in their lives they could enter a world of trust. We would gladly continue to accompany them on their own individual healing journey.
Our final recommendation would be to educate our country about the history of our first nations people. A greater understanding of the abhorrent mistreatment of our first nations people may help us to forge a brighter future for those who many consider our most vulnerable population.