Status of Women committee  In Canada, aboriginal people were the first inhabitants. I especially don't want to get into victimization, but we have a debt toward the aboriginal people. That's undeniable. Depending how the statistics are prepared, they say that approximately 3% of the Canadian population is

Status of Women committee  I'd like to emphasize something that has already been said, but that is along the same lines as the question. I want to emphasize the importance of addressing the problems comprehensively. I spent time with social workers in communities who told me they no longer knew where to st

Status of Women committee  I'd like to add a few comments. This act dates back to 1876 and was originally based on racial criteria. When it was introduced, a man, that man's children and, lastly, that man's lawful wife were Indians. That necessarily marked people because the act is characterized by patriar

Status of Women committee  I'd simply like to add that I entirely agree with my colleague. In response to Mr. Desnoyers, regarding possible solutions—I also agree with Ms. Demers—I would say that there are two important aspects, in my view: education and governance. The aboriginal communities, whether it

Status of Women committee  That might be one way. However, I've been working in communities for a long time, and I would say that, in any case, fundamentally, of all the young people and less young people I've known—the young people I knew long ago are no longer young today—there isn't one who didn't tell

Status of Women committee  I think young people who choose this kind of occupation should have the same certificates as others, if only because growing numbers of aboriginal people are entering urban areas in Quebec. They have to be able to speak with other caseworkers. They're already attending meetings,

Status of Women committee  Thank you very much. I'd also like to start by thanking you for inviting me to come and testify here. I'll introduce myself as well. I am Marie-Pierre Bousquet. I am Associate Professor in the Department of Anthropology of the University of Montreal. I've been working on aborig

Status of Women committee  I would prefer it that my colleague starts because we tried to prepare complementary presentations in order to be as efficient as possible.