A First Nations mother's fight for a brighter future

In her speech, 11-year-old ValynciaSparvier speaks about the need for women, especially First Nations', to have self-defence skills.

"I think we should take self-defence courses so that's what I have been doing for a while," Sparvier says of her weekly boxing lessons at Nelson Boxing Club.

• Raising a daughter in a world of the missing and murdered

"If any of them almost get abducted, or something like that, it's good that they know self-defence so that they can protect themselves," the girl said of her peers, who she speaks to about the issue.

It's the first time where were really feeling hopeful.- Brandy Maxie

Brandy Maxie said she is proud of her daughter's strength and feels with a little more hard work, they`ll be able to achieve their goal: to live comfortably and go to Disneyland.

"I told the kids 'I've got to work really, really hard and we're barely going to scrape by, but I will always find a way but one day we're going to be totally fine. I just want to live comfortably."

Now, Maxie is thankful that she no longer lives in a mouldy house in North Central. However, her older van is in need of repair and things still get tight at the end of the month.

Despite this, Maxie is determined to raise strong children who will learn to fight like she did for a brighter future.

"It's the first time where were really feeling hopeful."

Read the full story of Maxie's journey here:Raising a daughter in a world of the missing and murdered

Read more on this story here:

• No escape from the hood for single mother
• Long road makes way for First Nations mother's fresh start
• Fighting for a brighter future
• Raising a daughter in a world of the missing and murdered
• Saskatoon girl educates peers about missing and murdered aboriginal women

CBC Saskatchewan is taking a closer look this week at missing and murdered indigenous women cases in the province. We are exploring everything from how mothers are raising their daughters differently to the role men play in finding a solution to what more needs to be done.

We've also launched a way you can tell your story about how amissing and murderedindigenouscasehas touched your life. Shareyour story here.