Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am making this statement as a private Member. My comments may not necessarily reflect the views of my honourable colleagues on the special committee on constitutional reform. The report of the Special Joint Committee on a Renewed Canada carries important applications for all Canadians, and for aboriginal Canadians in particular. I am gratified by the joint committee's position that "after 125 years the time has come to bring aboriginal people into the constitution with equality and respect." Members of the joint committee have proven their commitment to this ideal by proposing entrenchment of aboriginals' inherent right to self-government. This is a significant development in terms of this country's constitutional evolution. I am impressed that the committee chose to overlook those people who, in an attempt to further their self interest, argued that an inherent right to self-government should not or could not exist.

I am referring to the submission made by Mr. Bob MacQuarrie of Yellowknife and certain others across the country. Mr. Speaker, the joint committee did not hear any evidence during the public meetings on whether the entrenchment of aboriginal self-government would affect land claims, but it did consider this to be an important issue which deserves further study. This is a question of significant importance to the Dene of Deh Cho. Our people had the courage to resist political pressures to proceed with a comprehensive Dene/Metis regional claim. They did this because of the federal government's insistence on the extinguishment of treaty rights. I believe that the entrenchment of inherent right to self-government may affect this federal position.

Time has now proved that the stance of Deh Cho and South Slave chiefs has been the correct one. They are to be commended for their patience in waiting to see the outcome of the national constitutional process, and for their reluctance to be hurried into a deal that would not have been in the best interests of the region.

Mr. Speaker, this is a critical time in the history of the South Slave people. I assure this House that I will be working closely with my honourable colleague for Nahendeh, as well as with the Deh Cho Regional Council, to examine the implication of our inherent right on the land claims process. I will be urging the territorial government to support us in these efforts. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.