Thank you so much.
I want to start out by saying that it's such an honour to know all of you who are here today. I feel very privileged, and I thank you for being here.
I also wanted to thank the families of Tanya Nepinak and Jennifer Catcheway, who I also know very well, for being so courageous to share their stories.
I also want to thank your mom, Lori. These are difficult stories, mired in stigma. I want to thank your mother for allowing you to share her story. I, too, have a mom who went through child welfare. I was lucky that she turned out just like you, Lori—a scholar, brilliant, brave and wonderful. It's an honour to know you, as well.
My first question is for you, Lori Campbell. I want to talk specifically about child welfare. We know that child welfare is a pipeline to MMIWG. I think that also within that we know that, statistically, when women lose their children, it often results in a downward spiral emotionally. Often, kids in child welfare, we know, are invisible. They don't have family connection. They don't have community connection.
When we're looking at oversight, why is it important for oversight to be independent and grassroots-led by women, 2-spirit and other advocates, survivors and family members?