Thank you for the opportunity to say a few words.
There was a reference to band councils potentially using resources that might go to women or programs for elsewhere. I take great exception to that. At our community level, we do the best with the limited funding we get. What I'm always hoping to hear in these kinds of debates is that it's not a blame game. We can't play around by blaming. We have to take action. We have to do things that are concrete and that are going to give results.
For too long, it has been that one party blames the other one, but it's the women and the communities that are caught in all of this debate. We need to see some concrete action. That's what the communities are asking. That's what the women are asking. It has to be built from the community. It's a community effort that has to pull it together. It will vary from one community to another, of course, depending on the capacity, but that's where it lies.
The answer lies with first nations people. It comes with the support of government, of course, but it lies with first nations people.
Thank you.