Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you, Members. As the Minister of Culture and Communications, I would like to draw your attention to some very special guests in our visitors' gallery today. They are from "The Arts from the Arctic Project" and they are the executive members of the national committee and multi-national steering committee. They are: Caroline Atuk-Derrick from the Institute of Alaska Native Arts; Ms. Gunhild Sara representing the Saami from Norway; Ms. Rose Marie Huuva for the Saami, Scandinavia; as well as the NWT representative, Mr. Dolphus Cadieux, in our gallery today.

---Applause

Mr. Speaker, as an international project the exhibition will include art from the indigenous artists of the five regions: Alaska, Canada, Greenland, USSR and Sapmi, Scandinavia. Each region has a national committee which co-ordinates efforts within each region to acquire and commission new works of art and produce a travelling exhibition. The final product will be an exhibition in each country with a representative selection of artwork from all regions.

The purpose, Mr. Speaker, of the project is to celebrate, highlight and expose the contemporary arts and crafts of the Arctic. Through programming of live culture performances, films and other presentations, co-operative and cultural exchanges will take place in each region. Finally, the artistic and cultural activities expressed in contemporary terms during the exhibitions will enhance a belief that these regions share a common background. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.