Thank you.
I want to thank each presenter here today for your very insightful comments and your sage advice. I commend all of you for your very hard work.
I grew up in rural Manitoba, and we were very poor growing up, so I know a great deal of what you're talking about.
That's why we invite people to committees, for solutions. I know some of you have been involved politically because you feel very strongly about your views, and I commend you for that, especially to see women do that.
Ellen, if you would bear with me for a few minutes, I was very interested in a comment you made. My son is married to an Ojibway girl, and we're a multi-ethnic family. I was very interested...you just said a brief sentence, but it had such a big impact because it's what I'm hearing over and over again, when you talked about culture and education. I've had the opportunity, as a former teacher, to work on reserves.
Could you comment a bit on...? We talk about dollars and cents and we talk about political programs and about this, that, and the other thing. But the real root, the heart and soul of aboriginal people, is the culture. Could you make some comment in terms of the culture and its importance in the education of the children and their well-being so they understand their roots?