Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Especially in my community, and there are a lot of others in the same situation, sometimes it seems that we never get enough good caregivers, because there is such a big need. About 10 or 15 years ago, we had a group who were not well educated. They weren't highly educated, but they were all local women who responded to a tragedy, or a funeral, or a situation that happened in town.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  That's a real challenge. We are one of the communities that are still negotiating a claim. We're still in a claims process. If we wanted more jobs, we would have to open up some of our land. Some of you may understand what I'm saying. Governments are saying we need land to be opened up for taxes, and that would bring in revenue, employment.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  About two years ago when the government built a new health centre we were all excited, the whole community, and it was going to be a new thing, but they were still bringing in mental health workers, social workers, nurses. The minister at the time didn't say it, but in our presentations we were celebrating and saying that we were going to have cross-cultural training for all the new government employees.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I really believe that's what the school has been doing. A lot of our teenagers did experience a few days, maybe a few weeks, out on the land. Still, when you come back to your community, I guess that community living is an environment that is still so very powerful because you have the bar, all the things that go on in the community.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  They're about six years old.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We're primarily a first nations community. We're about three hours south of Yellowknife, where the Mackenzie River begins. We're about 900 people. We're about 800 Dene, and we have about 100 Métis, and the rest are teachers, nurses. Yes, we do have our own health centre and we have a kindergarten to grade 12 school.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In my community, anyway, the majority are still first nation. The school about 10 or 15 years ago really started on-the-land teaching in their classes. I guess that's part of their curriculum. Those things have started, and they're beginning to make a real big difference now. Before, for the longest time, to be native or Dene in our neck of the woods was not a very good thing.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Mahsi. Good day. I bring greetings from the Deh Gah Got'ie First Nation. We are part of the Dehcho First Nations in the Northwest Territories. I am honoured to be in this part of the country to honour also the Coast Salish territory as we are here today. Respectfully, I offered tobacco to the grandmothers and grandfathers of this land outside of this hotel this morning for guidance for this committee in working on the youth and suicide issue.