I believe the social impact bond was more than just a social investment. It was an investment in people, and it mobilized our community. It brought together federal and provincial.... It brought together community, and it continues to answer that whole need.
Our biggest challenge was fighting the bureaucracy. We all make a living off poor people. Researchers come in, they do their research, and they leave. We're there in the community and we stay in our community.
If you really believe.... I think this was the easiest thing we ever did, because we believe in our parents and we believe in indigenous people. We believe in the potential. None of these mothers who have come through the programs since 2013 are in an institution. They're all caring for their children, where they should be.
I think what's made it so successful and what continues to make it successful is.... In meetings I've had with bureaucrats and ministers, the investors aren't these big, bad people who just want to make money off the poor people. They want to see the difference. I've had many conversations with the Mahs. For them, it's about showing that you can make a difference.
I think what happens is—and I've seen it with the people in Ontario trying to do a social impact bond—the bureaucrats got involved, and they just overloaded it instead of looking at what you want to do and what the impact is. All of these other things about people going to university and people being employed are all the extras. That's over and above the cost of the bond. With no disrespect, do I care what the cost saving of that is? No, because that's not what the bond was about. The bond was a contract, and all of these other social....
We talk about whether it's too early to see if these are successes. You're damn right they're successes, and I could have brought 30 women here today to show that they're successes. It's not because somebody studies it or somebody says, “Well, maybe it's too early.” No. We kept mothers and children where they belong.
When we start building 14-bed group homes, orphanages for our children, because indigenous people are coming in at such an alarming rate, that's something we need to look at and worry about.