Thank you, Madam Speaker. The next North American Indigenous Games will be held in the summer of 1995. As in previous games, in recent years, aboriginal athletes, officials and cultural performers in the Northwest Territories are planning to take part. Previous Ministers of Municipal and Community Affairs have been gracious enough to offer assistance to these athletes in travelling to these games. I understand that while the department still does not have a specific policy in place to help athletes attend these games, they have been able to grant assistance on a case by case basis.

These northerners are looking forward to representing the Northwest Territories at this very important event. They want to take pride in representing their home before the assembled First Nation of the continent. At the last games, however, Team Northwest Territories looked pretty ragtag compared to our neighbours from the Yukon. While Team Yukon had impressive uniforms and equipment, the participants from the Northwest Territories did not and the difference was obvious.

Madam Speaker, we are extremely fortunate to have such a strong sporting tradition in the Northwest Territories. I'm looking forward to asking the Minister about the possibility of providing northern aboriginal athletes and cultural performers with travel assistance and uniforms so that they can proudly represent the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

---Applause