Mahsi, Madam Speaker. I rise today to pay my respect to an important member of the Dogrib Nation who passed away recently. Madam Speaker, Charlie Charlo passed away on October 1st after a nine-month battle with cancer. He had just turned 50 years old when he passed away. He was born in Rae on September 25, 1944. He was the son of the late Alexis Charlo and Elizabeth Megwi.
Madam Speaker, Charlie attended school in Rae-Edzo in his early childhood. He continued on with his schooling at Grandin College in Fort Smith where he completed his grade 12. After returning home, Madam Speaker, Charlie became deeply involved in the community of Rae-Edzo. He did many things for the community in order for it to be a better place to live and also to provide more opportunities for the young people in that community.
In 1976, Madam Speaker, Charlie was elected chief of the Rae Dene Band. Under his leadership, Rae grew with new housing and also with the new Nishi-Khon complex and the Dene store.
Madam Speaker, he was the force behind getting economic development and also in creating the development corporation and forestry services in that community. Charlie also became Rae's first mayor and spent the next ten years serving in that capacity for the community of Rae-Edzo.
Madam Speaker, Charlie was the kind of person you could always go to and talk to. He always had time to listen to you. Above all, Charlie was a visionary person who worked very hard to create new opportunities for the people of Rae and also the region.
We will miss Charlie very much. His passing is a big loss to the Dogrib people. My deep condolences go to his wife Lena and his children Myles, Charlette and Cherolyn and also to his extended family. Mahsi.