The next witnesses are going to be on the issue of child welfare. As we did our travels across the country, we found one consistent pattern, and it is that there is a huge problem with child welfare and with the taking of children away from their parents and putting them into care in a non-aboriginal setting. This in itself has become almost an epidemic.
We wanted to discuss this because we didn't feel that we had enough information, so we've held these meetings to discuss the issue of child welfare and to dig deeper into what is going on. As a result, we have with us Cindy Blackstock, executive director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada.
Welcome, Cindy.