Thank you. Madam Speaker, the Minister responsible for Intergovernmental and Aboriginal Affairs, the Honourable Stephen Kakfwi, pointed out in the opening statement to his ministry's O and M budget that the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council will begin its first formal land claims negotiations this week in Rae Lakes. Madam Speaker, I am pleased to inform the House that the Dogrib Treaty 11 Council began its first formal land claims negotiation session with the federal government today.

---Applause

Madam Speaker, for the Dogrib people this is an historic milestone in our long struggle to gain back control over our traditional land. Through this process, I am very optimistic that we can reach a deal that the Dogrib people can live with. We are also pleased that the new Liberal government in Ottawa is committed to changing the comprehensive claim policy to allow for a one-track approach respecting land claims and self-government negotiations.

Madam Speaker, this means our entire self-government agreement, as opposed to the previous case, where it was only the self-government framework agreement, can be constitutionalized. This is very exciting and will be a great step forward. We trust the Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs can keep his bureaucracy onside and fulfil his commitment to change the claims policy.

Madam Speaker, you can be assured that the Treaty 11 Council's negotiating team will be guided by the Minister's commitment to reform the comprehensive claim policy.

Madam Speaker, as a general rule, the Treaty 11 Council intends to hold all negotiating sessions in one of the four Dogrib communities. The negotiating team intends to speak in a Dogrib language during these negotiations. This protocol may not seem that important to outsiders, but the Dogrib people at the community level must be intimately involved in all negotiations, every step of the way, and understand fully the negotiations and decisions made at the table.

Madam Speaker, I would like to close by wishing the Treaty 11 negotiating team the best of luck, knowing that they have worked very hard in preparing themselves for this first session of claims negotiations. Thank you.

---Applause