Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  [Witness speaks in Cree] Good morning. On behalf of the 30 northern Manitoba first nations representing nearly two-thirds of the province and the over 72,000 people in the MKO territory, I would like to thank everyone for this opportunity to make this brief presentation on suic

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Where do we start? I think the answers are within our communities themselves. We know in our families what we need to do to take care of each other and to take care of ourselves. We need that to be respected in this country. For example, when a loved one is sick in the hospital,

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I can tell you the positives about him. He was a very happy person, and the way he is smiling right here is how I remember him and how he approached anyone who ever approached him. He was very kind. His parents, my uncle Larry and his mother, Bertha, are beautiful people. My gran

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think you asked about the state of mental health in our communities. I think when you grow up in an isolated community, which I did and I think you did, as well, Romeo, it's easy to give up hope, because you don't feel like you can get anywhere. It costs maybe $600 to $1,000 to

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Absolutely. All the social determinants of health have a root cause and effect on the minds and hearts of our young people. They feel it the most because the meagre resources that come to our communities have to go to the general upkeep of the community. Usually the young people

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, and our community as well is always in a constant state of crisis and trauma. We never quite get over it. If their parents are feeling that constant state of crisis and trauma, then they pass it on to their children and then the next generation. At some point, we have to bre

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you very much. [Witness speaks in Cree] I am grateful to be here. My name is Sheila North Wilson from the Bunibonibee Cree Nation. An elder once told me that when we use our mother tongue first in public spaces, we are practising our sovereignty. So I do that out of respe

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  You're right. I think you know more about the situation than a lot of people might. We start off on a deficit and a negative when we start talking about core financing in our first nations, so it's not a surprise that some first nations and managers get accused of mismanagement.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  In terms of infrastructure, no, and in other areas, perhaps, such as mental health.... There is some investment in mental health, although it will never be enough. On infrastructure, I don't see it. I hear that there are promises coming for housing, but yet again we don't know.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are 46.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There are probably different reasons for it, but—

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I did allude earlier to the fact that they're starting off with a negative balance anyway, and when they are trying to manage the small amount of resources they have to cover all the needs, they end up looking as though they are mismanaging, but really they are trying to do the b

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  No, I don't, and I don't think doing that would be fair to any of the communities.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There just really isn't, and at the end of the day, it's usually the young people and the sick people who suffer the most.

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  There isn't in northern Manitoba. There are partnerships in Nelson House, for example, but there's not a trust fund.