Thank you, Madam Chair.
Thank you very much for being here with us today.
This group of witnesses is very different from the previous one. You have shown us the other side of the coin. The previous group had positive, laudatory things to say, said that things were going well and that everything was fine. What you have set out for us looks like the other side of the coin. This is testimony from people who are grappling with these problems within the communities. That is reality.
Sandra, you said that women did not want to become dependent on established programs because that did not solve the issue. I found that very touching. Even if those programs are set up by well-intentioned people, they don't live the problems and can't really solve them. These programs are indeed not set up nor offered by aboriginal women, whereas they should be. As you said so well, when you are not in a given situation, you don't know it from the inside, you don't live it. The solution has to come from you and you must solve these problems within your communities. We are not the ones who are going to decide in your stead how to solve them.
We are here to attempt to find ways to put an end to this violence. Give us the means to help you; suggest solutions to us. We are here to listen to you. You said it very well: this has to come from you. Please, share your ideas with us.