Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I think recent political history points out very, very clearly that it is the Aboriginal people of the Mackenzie Valley of the north that have taken the lead in seeking change and have actually made commitments to the change. These are reflected in the Inuit struggling and obtaining, struggling for and obtaining a dream of creating their own territory, their own government. Aboriginal people in the Mackenzie Valley, Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, the Sahtu, the Deh Cho have all stated very clearly and have some in legislation committed to creating new forms of government. But is still not clear and unheard that is still being demanded with the initiation of this discussion and public dialogue is the clear demonstration of the non-Aboriginal public that they too are prepared, not only in rhetoric but in some substantive form, commit to making changes to the institutions of government to the institutions that we are forced to live with today. Mr. Speaker in the next few weeks, I believe all Aboriginal leaders will be looking to the people of Yellowknife, Hay River and Norman Wells and other centres where the non-Aboriginal people live to hear some expression that they are prepared to make some substantive changes and to be open to hearing the needs of people and to discuss ways in which those can be met. Thank you very much.
Stephen Kakfwi on Draft Constitution Package For The New Western Territory
In the Legislative Assembly on October 16th, 1996. See this statement in context.
Draft Constitution Package For The New Western Territory
Item 3: Members' Statements
October 15th, 1996
Page 1176
See context to find out what was said next.