Well, what you say is right: there is more violence in the communities. Overcrowding is an issue, and we know that overcrowding causes violence and mental health issues as well. That's probably why a lot of the young women leave home when they're not ready to leave.
When I say they're not ready, it's that they don't know enough about the outside world, so to speak. But they do take that risk. They leave and we know where they end up. I think you're well aware of the 580 some aboriginal women, many very young, who ended up on Vancouver's east side and they're either dead or missing. I think all of that is interrelated. I think that housing has to be improved.
As for shelters, there are shelters on the reserve, but it's a situation where everybody knows everybody. Usually the communities are small and everybody knows everybody. Are the young women accessing services there? I'm doubtful about that.
I think that where there are no services in the communities for young females.... But as I mentioned earlier, I want to stress that there are friendship centres that are good places, which young women who are leaving their communities should be made aware of and where they can go for services.
I know that the friendship centres as well are very underfunded. I think the government has a prime opportunity to work with the friendship centres and to offer these services to the young women, because the end results are very sad.