Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples: Opening Prayer, Presentation on behalf of Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Services Society

The file contains an opening prayer from the sitting of the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples at the Lodge Hotel, Kelowna, British Columbia, Thursday, June 17, 1993. The file also contains a presentation on behalf of the Vancouver Aboriginal Child and Family Service Society by Bett Tsa-me-gahl. Following an opening prayer by Elder Dave Parker, Tsa-Me-Gahl discusses her organization and its' efforts to "redress the historical colonial intrusions that have disrupted and fractured cultural, extended family systems within First Nations." Tsa-Me-gahl summarizes some of the demographic data concerning social problems amongst Aboriginal people and offers some possible solutions. Tsa-Me-Gahl also discusses the negative impact of funding constraints. Following the presentation Commissioner Mary Sillett discusses some of the issues raised with Tsa-Me-Gahl.