Electoral Reform committee  I will talk to you about my personal experience. I live in Pointe-aux-Trembles, in the Montreal region. I kept myself informed during the latest election campaign. I was familiar with the candidates in the Joliette riding, where the Centre de l'amitié is located. We made efforts to raise awareness.

Electoral Reform committee  Exactly. In the last election, we focused on raising awareness. I wondered why, in our centre, we were continuing to carry out this work, when some of the work should be done by Elections Canada. It wasn't easy, but we took the time to do it. For us, it was a positive step. I decided to come today because I thought it was important.

Electoral Reform committee  I'll say one thing. Imagine if the ballots were written in atikamekw. It would be fantastic.

Electoral Reform committee  I'm happy to speak, because I have difficulty when a person addresses certain issues. Personally, the word “racialized” cuts me to the core. I'm not a race. I think it's important to say so. I will now speak about consultations with aboriginal people. Today I'm here out of choice, as an aboriginal woman.

Electoral Reform committee  It's special, because we draw considerable inspiration from New Zealand. For example, our approach, the culturally relevant and safe approach, is based on New Zealand's. Currently, as you are aware, there is an Assembly of First Nations for Canada, and, an Assembly of First Nations of Quebec and Labrador at the provincial level.

Electoral Reform committee  So I'm not the only person to mention it.

Electoral Reform committee  If you go directly to where they are, the participation rate for Aboriginals will increase.

Electoral Reform committee  That's right. Some of our families in the area only speak Atikamekw. It's useful to speak English and French, which are the two official languages, but at our centre, when we want to explain the importance of voting, and we want it to have an impact, we do it in Atikamekw. We also have to explain the procedure.

Electoral Reform committee  An Aboriginal MP who would represent Aboriginal people? Certainly.

Electoral Reform committee  Earlier, I referred to the "nation to nation" concept. One day, it might be possible. Since we're talking about it now, why not?

Electoral Reform committee  Thank you.

Electoral Reform committee  It would be a good idea to go into the communities, and to have polling places there. No doubt about it. One point should be noted when the vote produces a majority. For example, in the last election, given the national trend favouring the Liberals, Aboriginal people might have wondered if they were going to win their election when it seemed the Bloc would be winning their constituency.

Electoral Reform committee  The television ads about participation, citizenship and the right to vote don't work. The Elections Canada ads are certainly cute, but you have to reach out to people. You have to go and meet them. For us, getting people involved so they can be part of the change is important.

Electoral Reform committee  Exactly. The famous card is a challenge for our families, because if someone loses the card, they can't vote. Certain people went to the polling station and were told they needed to have the card, and they didn't have it. That alone was a challenge. It's why many families didn't vote.

Electoral Reform committee  First of all, the elector's card is a challenge in itself for us. Why can't people simply show up with a piece of ID? For Aboriginal families, it would be a lot easier. And as I mentioned earlier, friendship centres are non-partisan organizations. Since it's important to attract indigenous families, why not create polling stations in friendship centres?