Thank you.

Good morning, Mr. Chair.

Good morning, members of the committee.

My name is Tommy Benjamin. I'm originally from Old Crow, Yukon Territory. I live in Calgary, Alberta. I'm a Gwich'in veteran.

In 1982, I enlisted in the Canadian Armed Forces. My basic training was at Canadian Forces Base Cornwallis in Nova Scotia. At that time, there were a large number of recruits from across the Arctic and the high Arctic who were a part of CFB Cornwallis training. At that time, we were also known as Indians and Eskimos. We're now known as first nations, so I'll use that term in my presentation.

The training staff immediately began to weed the first nations recruits out of the ranks. The term now, I believe, is “systemic racism.” I was assaulted at 2:30 in the morning by training staff. I was grabbed by my ankle and thrown to the floor from the top bunk I was assigned to. I was asleep at the time.

Today I have back problems. I had concussion issues at the time. I still managed to serve with those conditions.

One by one, the first nations recruits were breaking down, and some of them were crying because they were unfairly picked on. For the Inuit recruits, their last names were being mocked by the training staff during this time.

Racism and discrimination continued throughout my time in the military. I left the military early because of the abuse that I was serving under, the abuse that was happening to me and my fellow first nations recruits and members of the Canadian Armed Forces.

In my transition out of the military, I had a lot of difficulties. I still do today. I had a lot of difficulties with alcoholism and drug addiction, not to mention anxiety, social anxiety, a history of homelessness, unemployment and poverty—the list could go on forever. I experienced it. I lived it.

In 2007, as part of a clinic that first nations people go to in Calgary, they sent me for a diagnosis. Within half an hour, the results came back that I had chronic complex post-traumatic stress disorder from my experience in the military.

There was no such phrase as “transition out of the military” when I served, so I had a lot of difficulties with transferring out of the military. I always say that my mom didn't get the same person back that she sent to the military.

Today, I have to say that this is my fifth time applying for benefits with the Veterans Association Food Bank in Calgary, with their Veterans Association set-up and with David J. Thompson, who's the aboriginal liaison engagement officer who reviewed my file and said that I should have been on benefits in 2015.

I'm still in the process of applying for benefits. I pray that I will get them, because at this point I'm on what is called AISH in the province of Alberta. It's assured income for the severely handicapped that my doctor put me on.

That in itself, I believe, is my presentation. I thank you for your attention.

Ottawa is a beautiful city. It's my first time here. Thank you for having us.