Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to announce that the Grand Chief, Eddie Erasmus, of the Dogrib Nation received a letter yesterday from the federal Minister of Indian and Northern Development, the Honourable Tom Siddon, informing him that the Government of Canada has agreed to enter into formal negotiations with the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council toward a comprehensive land claims settlement.
---Applause
Mr. Speaker, as you will recall, this process began during the first assembly of the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council held this past August in Rae. The council represents the communities of Rae Edzo, Rae Lakes, Snare Lakes and Lac La Martre. It was there that a resolution was passed unanimously which mandated the council to initiate and to assume full control and responsibility of negotiations for a Dogrib Nation regional comprehensive claim.
Mr. Speaker, as I have said in this House before, our aspiration of political autonomy in the North Slave must be coupled with economic strength. Self-government in the North Slave is meaningless without a solid economic base. Without a solid economic base, Mr. Speaker, self-government is akin to a tree that can bear no fruit. That is our principle reason for settling a comprehensive claim with the federal government. Mr.
Speaker, I anticipate that early in the new year we will have assembled a negotiating team, have our federal funding support and be in position to commence claims negotiations with the federal government. Mahsi Cho.