Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It is unfortunate my colleague, Mr. Gargan, is not in the House, but Mr. Speaker, I did want to make a statement in respect to some of the comments that were made yesterday. I, as a Member of this House, certainly feel that it is critical that the component of cultural programs remain within the school system.
I have been reading a small notebook called the "Fiddle and the Sash" which was produced from the history of the Metis of the Northwest Territories. With that, there is a part of education in the church which I would like to read to the Members. I think it reflects some of the reasons why we, as Members, are going to pay respects to the late Bishop Piche tomorrow. It states:
"Until the 1950s most Metis children were schooled by the Anglican and Roman Catholic Churches. The churches ran residential and day schools with the financial assistance of the federal government. In the 1920s there were seven schools in the Mackenzie Valley. Children stayed in residence in the schools from grades one to nine, learning the basics of education, religion, skills such as: sewing; gardening; and wood crafts. Several former students showing the oblates of Mary Immaculate, O.M.I. and the Grey Nuns, have devoted their lives to the people of the north: Father Napoleon Lafferty; Patrick Mercredi; Sister Delilah Burke; Annie Cooper; Alice Delorme; Anne Mercredi; Agnes Sutherland; and Louise Tourangeau.
Many of the Metis Anglican students later served as lay readers and catechists for northern congregations. Sarah Stewart Simon along with her Gwich'in husband, the Reverend James Simon, ministered the Anglican faith to their people. Sarah, now at the age of 90, has served the church as catechist, interpreter, Sunday School teacher and organist. For her many years of religious dedication and service as midwife, she was awarded the Order of Canada in the fall of 1991."