Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, there is a fine arts certificate program that's offered in Fort Simpson that gives the people of the Deh Cho region a chance to enhance and display their artistic abilities. This latest program is in keeping with the long tradition of efforts made by the people of Deh Cho to preserve and encourage traditional arts and crafts. Over the years, numerous activities have taken place such as workshops and different events that were provided to the people in the Deh Cho region. The traditional artists of the past have made efforts to see that the artisan aspect of our culture has not been lost.

As I have mentioned before, most recently the fine arts program is offered in Fort Simpson and Hay River. This program in Fort Simpson is instructing nine students on the fundamentals of design, drawing, sculpture and carving. Instructing the course is Bill Nasogaluak whose enthusiasm and expertise has encouraged each participant to grow and mature into committed artists.

Mr. Speaker, the dream of the Deh Cho is that one day the Deh Cho will become the home to an entire school devoted to develop our fine arts for the western Arctic. Traditional arts programs would be fundamental, but today's artists would be encouraged to not only preserve traditional skills but take those skills to new heights within the contemporary world of art. Fashion design, fur garment designs and so forth are some areas that could be expanded based on traditional arts and crafts. Similarly, men's traditional skills, could be incorporated into marketable products which would make use of natural materials from the land.

In addition to the current visual arts program and suggested traditional arts program, Mr. Speaker, innovative programs could be developed in the fields of music, dance, drama, film production, fashion design and so forth that reach those beyond our borders.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to applaud the efforts of Ms. Barb Tsetso whose lobbying and long hours of dedication saw the fine arts program finally offered in Fort Simpson. Further, as an example, Mr. Speaker...

I'm running out of time, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.