Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we hear a lot in the north about the need for our communities to heal. Last week, in Rae-Edzo, people from across the region gathered to do just that under the program called "Healing Ourselves, Healing Our Community." This week-long program was sponsored by the Dogrib Rae Band and funded through the community wellness program.
Mr. Speaker, there were four key topics discussed during the week: traditional healing; anger management; addiction healing -- gambling and alcohol; and, community healing. People were able to attend different sessions each day. The facilitators, Harvey Tootoosis, Russel Willier, Charlie Neyellie, Florence Saskatchewan, Daniel Beaver, Baptise and Eugene Newborn and Charlie Weaselhead, did an excellent job of sharing their information ideas and encouraged the participants to share their experiences.
On the final day of the program, Mr. Speaker, all facilitators and participants gathered together for a final traditional healing session. For many, this session helped the process of personal healing. The staff of the friendship centre need to be congratulated on the successful organization of this program in a very short period of time. As well, the people of Rae-Edzo should be commended for the community dedication to the need for healing. In recognition of the spirit of the program, there was a reduction in activities related to the problems of communities such as bingos, card games and drinking.
Mr. Speaker, the message coming from this gathering was clear. We want to be healthy in mind, spirit, emotion and body. The participants will carry this message into their everyday lives. The people of the Dogrib region, as individuals and communities, will continue the momentum of this healing process. And, Mr. Speaker, talking to various organizations in that particular community, they encourage this government and also the federal government to continue the type of support that's required at the community level. Mahsi.