Thank you, Mr. Speaker. One of the very first things we did as a government was meet with the Aboriginal Summit in the Western Arctic. We have talked to them and offered our support on aboriginal self-government. At one of our first meetings with the members of the Aboriginal Summit, they made it very clear that the implementing of inherent rights is one of their major priorities, and we agreed with them that we would work with them to make sure that that happens and that this government fully supports their inherent right to self-government.
Earlier this month, the government and the Legislative Assembly announced its vision and the priorities for the next three years leading up to division. One of the priorities that we have adopted as a government is to take aboriginal rights, treaty rights, aboriginal concerns and views into account, and to move forward with a meaningful self-government agenda that is based both on recognition of inherent right and on public government and self-government models for the rationalization of delivery of services.
We, as a government, also have contributed $50,000 to the Sahtu Secretariat to assist in the Self-government Forum '96 to be held in April. The government has contributed an additional $48,500 to the Aboriginal Summit to enable it to prepare materials and possible linkages between aboriginal government and public government for the use of the Self-government Forum '96. The GNWT will use the results of the conference to finalize its approaches to self-government so that our negotiators can participate in a more effective way in the decisions.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, my government remains committed to the development of new relationships with the members of the Aboriginal Summit, and is willing to discuss with the summit a protocol to formalize meetings and for the Aboriginal Summit to meet with Cabinet. I feel quite confident that the Minister responsible for Aboriginal Affairs, Mr. Jim Antoine, will work with the Aboriginal Summit to get signatures to that protocol.
Finally, Mr. Speaker, yes, this government does support the inherent right to self-government.