Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples

Looking Forward, Looking Back. The time has come for tears of sorrow to be
wiped away and our throats to be cleared of dust, and for us to speak in a
frank and open way about our future in this land we share.

Restructuring the Relationship. We cannot ignore the wrongs of the past or the
rights flowing from the historical relationships between Aboriginal and
non-Aboriginal people in Canada. But we are not prisoners of the past, and we
can restore and renew that relationship on the basis of mutual recognition and
respect, sharing and responsibility.

Perspectives and Realities. I have no written speech. Everything that I have
said I have been carrying in my heart, because I have seen it, I have
experienced it.

Gathering Strength. Aboriginal nations need a strong and durable foundation
upon which to build self-government. That foundation is the people - healthy,
educated individuals, strong in body and soul, mind and spirit.