Mr. Speaker, today I would like to pay special tribute to a constituent who showed extreme courage and dedication toward others in the last year of her life. Last Friday, Ms. Leetia Geetah passed away in Iqaluit, even though she was only 31 years old. Her death was caused as a result of her having become infected with the AIDS virus.
Her parents, Charlie and Inuapik Sagiaktuk, and her two children, Oolooleaktuk and Audla, were very proud of her because during the last year of her life she dedicated herself to doing all she could to see that others did not become infected with this deadly killer.
Mr. Speaker, this message was not being delivered by a health professional or by someone who had read enough books to be called an expert. This was from a woman whose own life was becoming shorter with every day that passed. It must have taken every ounce of courage for her to stand up in front of others and tell her story.
Mr. Speaker, Leetia Geetah will not be remembered for her special works of art of her great political actions. However, she should, and will, be remembered as a brave and unselfish individual who tried to help her people with every ounce of strength left in her. I hope that her messages about this terrible disease will be remembered by everyone that her life has touched.
By this statement, Mr. Speaker, I am hoping that we in this Assembly will also do our part to help spread her messages as one way of saying "thank you" to this very special citizen. Qujannamiik.
---Applause