National Defence committee  When I was in it, I didn't really see a lot of indigenous women. As someone who came from post-secondary education and went to the recruiting centre and into basic training so quickly, I felt that if I'd had a mentor, even at the Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu institution, maybe there would have been more connection, not feeling so homesick the majority of the time.

National Defence committee  Yes, sir. There are plenty of elders who I know are wanting to be proactive in that. I feel it would be very beneficial, again, even for me as a young indigenous person. If I might expand more on the coordination of the recruiting centre to indigenous communities, I've actually coordinated that on my own time to bring recruiting centres out to my own reserve.

National Defence committee  Good day. Âba wathtech. My name is Tasina Pope. My indigenous name is Îyâ To Wîyâ, which means Blue Mountain Woman. I come from Treaty 7 territory, which holds the Stoney Nakoda First Nation, Blackfoot Confederacy, Tsuut’ina Nation, Métis region 3 and all who call the land their home.