I think it's very critical to have an accountability mechanism in place, because without that mechanism, indigenous women, girls and two-spirit and gender-diverse people are going to continue to die at alarming rates, and go missing and experience violence at alarming rates.
When we look at accountability mechanisms, I feel, regardless of what government is in power, as indigenous women, girls and two-spirit and gender-diverse people, we've been experiencing violence for decades—including my grandmother, my great-grandmother, my mother, and me as well.
I think, collectively, each and every one of you and all levels of government have to focus on establishing an accountability mechanism where we're going to see change in this country; where we're going to feel safe as indigenous women, girls and two-spirit and gender-diverse people; where we're not constantly looking over our shoulder, wondering if we're going to be next, if we're going to go missing, if we're going to be murdered, if we're going to experience violence; and to really focus on addressing the systemic and structural racism that's deeply embedded in state policies and state practices as well.
It's urgently needed.