Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  We have a very small budget, in that we get $50,000 from the Government of Nunavut to help us run, and then we get a little more to give to the Ottawa distress centre. Our budget is about $120,000 to $130,000 now, but that is with no paid employees. That's with me and everyone el

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  The protective factors around family are really important. Even in families that some people might think are not functioning well or are dysfunctional, there are still strong ties, and that's why we need to work on the family issues and the family strengths. When I've done inter

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  One of our issues is all the changes in the way we communicate. Right now we are only able to do actual phone calls, and they can be from cellphones or regular phones. So many people, especially young people, like to communicate via chats or emails or whatever. My daughter only c

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I will just add a little bit. When I think of colonization, I think of issues such as power and control. When people went into settlements, they didn't really have a lot of power and control over their own lives, and certainly the residential school system reflects that as well

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Correct me if I'm wrong, because I retired from the school system a few years ago, but there was a program, or at least a course, that looked at the residential school legacy. Is there still? Oh, good. Yes, that is still going. It wasn't started when I was there; it just starte

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll answer a bit. I'm sure Kim and David have a number of other thoughts. With any type of program like that in a small community, often it takes a dedicated individual or a dedicated group of people to get things going. Small communities are not just offered a ton of money and

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I think if it was put out to communities that this is available, and they had support in applying for it and support in having the program work in a way that worked for their community, then I think, yes. We would get support. I think there would be people in communities to do it

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  I'll just say that certainly an addictions centre for Nunavummiut is really important. I know we can't have a centre in every community. Youth centres in all communities is critical. Having a centre where people can gather to get support and help and maybe have some fun as well i

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Okay, I'm going to go very quickly, or just try to make sure I get everything. Effective cross-cultural counselling education needs to be done with all counsellors who are not from Nunavut. Culturally sensitive and culturally based programs and services are essential if they ar

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Yes, I will go to my conclusion, that's right. In my conclusion I will just talk a little bit about something that I'm involved with right now. The Kamatsiaqtut is holding the 2016 Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention's national conference with groups like the Embrace Li

Indigenous and Northern Affairs committee  Thank you for this invitation. I've read testimony from various other witnesses who appeared before you during the summer. I will try not to parrot what has already been said. I will respond to the objectives of your study drawing from my own studies and experiences, many of whi