Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, at 8:00 am on November 16, 1885, nearly 109 years ago, Louis David Riel was born at Regina, Saskatchewan, and is today buried on the grounds of the basilica in St. Boniface, Manitoba.

For generations, Canadians have been intrigued about this man who forged the essence of Metis rights for new generation Metis Canadians. Only in recent years, under the leadership of the Right Honourable Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, has Riel's sentence of traitor to his country been commuted in favour of and in recognition of Riel as a man who fought for Metis rights, formed a provisional government, was provisional governor of the province of Manitoba, and who was elected to the honourable position of Member of the Canadian Parliament.

After the Riel resistance movements in Saskatchewan, Canadian Metis were often ostracized and, not unlike other world nations of peoples, dispersed throughout the United States and into Canadian provinces and territories. Then the Northwest Territories Metis populations grew, not only in the pre-fur trade era, employed as scowsmen and helmsmen, interpreters, carpenters and entrepreneurs, but also continued family alliances in the post-fur trade area forming permanent settlements in all regions of the Northwest Territories. Some of the Metis traditions and customs brought to the north by the Red River Metis who married into northern Metis families are melded with northern Metis traditions and customs and are still seen and heard in the creative arts and crafts and music of new generation northern Metis.

The impetus for northern Metis to gain recognition of Metis rights in community, regional, territorial, national and international forums has resulted from the hope and aspirations begun by Louis David Riel, that all Metis have individual and collective rights that can be fully and equally recognized as other world countries and nations.

Madam Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.