Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The United Nations has chosen 1993 as a year to recognize and celebrate indigenous peoples around the world. In support of this declaration, the Department of Public Works and Services has undertaken three activities.

The department has presented $500 each, to two outstanding northern aboriginal university engineering students: Warren McLeod, from Yellowknife; and Corey Wainman, from Inuvik. The students had to be entering the first year of a post-secondary technical program and, based on their excelled high school achievements, they were judged likely to succeed in these difficult programs.

In addition, four apprentices who are working with Public Works and Services will be recognized with $400 gift certificates to purchase tools. The apprentices are: Martha Aupaluktuq, from Baker Lake; Larry Benwell, from Fort Smith; Aime Panimera, from Igloolik; and Barney Tootoo, from Rankin Inlet. The selection of these awards was based on a combination of work performance and academic achievement.

As well, two posters of aboriginal employees -- Patty Greenley, from Cambridge Bay and Floyd Daniels, from Fort Simpson -- will be published in January, showing the employees as successful role models and encouraging aboriginal students to stay in school. The posters stress the department's theme of "work with us."

There is a great demand in the Northwest Territories for aboriginal tradespeople and graduates of technical programs.

Our awards recognize the success and efforts of individuals in these fields. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause