Mr. Speaker, the Member was invited to accompany me on a tour to his own constituency and he did not take that invitation. To suggest that I do not know what his constituency is saying, is I think a bit irresponsible. I have spent time travelling in the communities. I have spent time talking to the people and I have spent time maintaining contact with them. There is an exchange of correspondence and there has been some movement in some of the areas which they have asked us to respond to. With regard to his comments, if there is a problem that the Gwich'in have with the work we are doing and we are offering to do, if they suggest that it might prejudice the work that they are doing to fill out the self-government which is laid out in their frame work, then we will cease immediately. In the approach we have taken to communities, in particular aboriginal communities, is that those responsibilities, authorities, resources which the territorial government currently has are available to the aboriginal communities. We take the view that we support and believe that the Inuit, Metis, Dene, and Inuvialuit all have the inherent right to govern themselves. That implies very explicitly that this government does not have a right to govern them if they have never given their blessing to this government. The resources, programs and services that this government currently provides to them, is basically there for the discussion. I have laid it out very clearly in the Member's constituency. They know full well because I have done it twice. Thank you.
Stephen Kakfwi on Question 113-12(3): Implementation Of Gwich'in Final Agreement
In the Legislative Assembly on November 26th, 1992. See this statement in context.
Further Return To Question 113-12(3): Implementation Of Gwich'in Final Agreement
Question 113-12(3): Implementation Of Gwich'in Final Agreement
Item 5: Oral Questions
November 25th, 1992
Page 151
See context to find out what was said next.