Thank you. Before I begin, I would like to acknowledge that we are gathered here today on the Anishinabe Algonquin territory.

[Witness spoke in Ojibwa]

[English]

My name is Debbie Eisan. I am a 36-year veteran of the Canadian Armed Forces. I am originally from Batchewana First Nation in Ontario. I now reside in Nova Scotia, where my navy career brought me. My 36-year career took me from 1975 to 2011. I retired on a Friday in 2011, took my seaboots off and put on moccasins on the Monday. I've been at the Mi'kmaw Native Friendship Centre ever since.

Today I am here as a first nation veteran and representative of the Assembly of First Nations' first nations veterans council. The first nations veterans council advocates for first nations veterans, families and communities, and provides a voice to the concerns raised by first nations veterans who have suffered from the trauma of service or war and its impact on families over generations.

First nations peoples have a long history of service in the Canadian Armed Forces, with many veterans returning to their communities after their service. The first nations veterans council recognizes the unique challenges faced by these veterans and has made supporting them a top priority. We come to share the untold stories, the unsung heroism and the ongoing challenges indigenous veterans face, specifically first nation veterans who have served this nation with unwavering dedication and sacrifice.

Key priorities of the first nations veterans council include, but are not limited to, advocating for better access to veterans' benefits and services for indigenous veterans; promoting cultural sensitivity in veterans supports programs; addressing the specific health needs of indigenous veterans, including mental health supports; and preserving and honouring the legacy of indigenous military service.

Key areas of concern raised by the first nations veterans council are as follows.

First is discrimination, as many first nation veterans were denied benefits, lost their Indian status and were excluded from memorials and Remembrance Day ceremonies. This shameful treatment is a stain on our nation's history that we must acknowledge and rectify.

Supporting indigenous veterans across diverse first nation communities represents unique challenges, as geographic isolation of some communities makes access to services difficult. There are also cultural and linguistic barriers in accessing mainstream veterans services, historical distrust of government institutions among some indigenous peoples and limited resources in many first nation communities for veterans support.

Challenges faced by female indigenous veterans include health care disparities: Female veterans often struggle to receive gender-specific care within the veterans health administration system, which has historically been male-oriented, with limited access to gynecological and reproductive health services, inadequate screening and treatment for conditions more common in women, and lack of privacy in some Veterans Affairs facilities that were not designed with women in mind.

Female veterans experience higher rates of military sexual trauma compared to their male counterparts, leading to long-term psychological effects, a higher prevalence of PTSD related to sexual assault or harassment during their service, and difficulty in reporting and seeking help due to fear of retaliation or stigma. With family and caregiver responsibilities, many female veterans face unique challenges in balancing their post-service lives with family obligations, with a higher likelihood of being single parents and of having difficulties in accessing child care during medical appointments or job training.

Indigenous female veterans often face cultural disconnects when seeking support services, a lack of culturally competent care in mainstream veteran support systems and difficulty in accessing traditional healing practices within Veterans Affairs health care. Many indigenous communities are located in remote areas, creating additional barriers to accessing veteran services, with limited access to Veterans Affairs facilities and specialized care, and challenges to participating in job training programs or educational opportunities.

The legacy of historical trauma can impact indigenous female veterans' willingness to seek help from government institutions. There is a hesitancy to engage with Veterans Affairs services due to past negative experiences with government agencies. There's a need for trust-building initiatives and community-based support systems.

Addressing the unique needs of female veterans, and particularly indigenous female veterans, requires targeted approaches and policies.

Recognizing and addressing these challenges, AFN's collaboration with Veterans Affairs Canada resulted in the signature of an AFN-VAC letter of understanding that focuses on expanding outreach, enhancing first nations representation in commemoration activities and establishing a historical record of first nations veterans.

The letter of understanding focuses on four key pillars. The first is access and expanded outreach activities for first nations veterans and their families. The second is establishing clear points of contact for first nations veterans' matters at VAC. The third is increasing indigenous representation in commemoration-related activities. The fourth is supporting the establishment of a historical record of first nations veterans and soldiers who have served in times of war, military conflicts and peace, including those undocumented by Canada.

Addressing the unique needs of female veterans, particularly indigenous female veterans, requires targeted approaches and policies. By recognizing and addressing these specific challenges, we can better support all veterans in their post-service lives.

Thank you. Meegwetch.