Status of Women committee  The court case is quite interesting, because there's one particular coach whom I do believe should be charged. However, as we all know, victims coming out and testifying after many years.... I wouldn't wish that on anybody. It's awful. I worked on the national inquiry into MMIWG.

Status of Women committee  I recommended having that role years ago to one of the sport ministers I was meeting with. I said they needed an independent person who was going to oversee athletes and who could speak out on their behalf. I want it particularly because I interface with the sport system and hear

Status of Women committee  There are multiple facets to the answer I want to give you. For instance, when an athlete gets on a national team, they get a carding cheque from Heritage Canada. You have to sign an agreement. You have to sign your life away to get that carding cheque or you don't get it. Ther

Status of Women committee  It was the Olympic edition of Time magazine, when there was a Canadian Time magazine. I was asked to be on the cover for a couple of reasons. Women's water polo was finally in the Olympics 100 years after the men's sport was in the Olympics. Also, I was an indigenous athlete and

Status of Women committee  Did it hinder my opportunities? People remember it. Did it hinder me in the memory of Canadians? No, but it put a bull's eye on me, as I was the face of water polo. I think about that. I was given that opportunity. I really wanted a chance to promote my sport, and I wanted people

Status of Women committee  It's definitely common practice within Water Polo Canada. It's in any hierarchical system that has an “old boys' club”. We have a small enough community that everybody knows each other, so these coaches protect each other. This particular coach had sexual relations with a 15-yea

Status of Women committee  Yes.

Status of Women committee  In 2001 or 2002, a few other Olympians and I first went to the person who ran the sports excellence centre at Claude-Robillard in Montreal. We were told blatantly, “We're so sorry this is happening. We realize this is happening, but there's nothing we can do. You need to go throu

Status of Women committee  I think it boils down to the intent of the system. For some reason, this country is obsessed with medals, and it's like a international pissing contest. If the intent of our sports system is to create the best athletes, the physical capacity of these athletes is one small compone

Status of Women committee  Yes.

Status of Women committee  There was a report stating that these coaches, and a particular coach, should never work with young women again. It was given to Sport Canada. It was well known; it was published. However, Sport Canada continued to just hand money over to Water Polo Canada. There was no oversight

Status of Women committee  Shé:kon. Good morning. My name is Waneek Karakwinionta Onakarakete Sunshine Horn-Miller. I'm a Bear Clan woman from the Mohawk communities of Kahnawake and Ohsweken. I am a mother. I'm very honoured to be here. I want to thank the parliamentary committee for inviting me to come