Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to discuss a presentation which was made to the Royal Commission on aboriginal people in Rankin Inlet by a person from Baker Lake, regarding the Nauhaaq Food Bank. I think the presentation made by this lady was very good. She starts off talking about the kinds of problems that ordinary people would have in the community of Baker Lake. I will quote some words that she used, because I think that the presentation was made very well.
I quote, "there are very few wage jobs in Baker Lake and the unemployment is around 80 per cent. It is really hard on people. Most of the men are hunters hunting caribou to feed their families, and it is our tradition to share what we have with people who do not have enough for themselves and their children. There are people in Baker Lake who make good salaries, and there are a few people, kabloona business men, who are getting rich. Many, many people can barely afford to feed their families from one week to the next."
She then goes on to describe the "walk of love" which I made a statement, on February 14, 1992, where she walked from the community of Baker Lake to the hill across the lake.
Further into her presentation, she went on to say, "We have gone on the radio asking for donations of country food and people have given us caribou to distribute. We have to give some people caribou because many people cannot afford to hunt for themselves. It costs money to operate the ski-doo, to buy gas and bullets. People get in a trap when they are on welfare. They are not allowed to spend welfare money on their ski-doo, and so, they cannot afford to hunt for themselves. They have no choice but to stay on welfare and even though they have nothing much to do, it is difficult for them to hunt for meat for their family".
She then goes on to give the reason why they now have the Nauhaaq Food Bank; there are a number of reasons why people need this kind of emergency food. People on welfare simply do not have enough money to make it through the entire month, especially if they have a large families and luxuries like a telephone to pay for, and if you have tried your hardest to make...