Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I will be supporting this unity resolution. I believe it is only a small part of what needs to be done. Mr. Speaker, in the community of Inuvik I brought the questions to the Samuel Hearne Secondary School. The group of students responded from junior high class. I see that in the committee's report, some of their concerns have been addressed because their concern was that the Northwest Territories was not in the Calgary Declaration. They wanted to see more of that and some of the aboriginal issues as well.

Mr. Speaker, this is a day that we have set aside, as Legislators, to do our part for Canada. The day itself is like many others. It is the issue that will make this day different for us. We, as representatives of the Northwest Territories, can let the rest of Canada know how we feel.

Mr. Speaker, I think that we live in the best country. I am happy that I was born in the land that is strong and free; that my children were born in this great land - for the future is full of opportunity and the freedom to speak is still a cornerstone of democracy.

Mr. Speaker, today it is we that set the direction for the future. It is our example that will lead our children into this future. You see, it is not how we legislate or govern. It is how we live our lives that will be the key to leading and building a strong country for the future.

Mr. Speaker, I believe we cannot legislate how Canadians feel about one another. I believe if we are to have a true idea of unity, it will come from within. Mr. Speaker, I say acceptance starts at home and through acceptance, we will have unity.

In closing I would like to say that I am an Inuvialuit; I am a northerner; I am a Canadian. To the rest of Canada, I say I invite you to come and learn about the north and its people. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too will be speaking in favour of this motion. Mr. Speaker, people in my riding did not overwhelmingly respond to this survey as well, but I believe it is because it is a very complex issue. It is not something we can expect the average person in the street to be able to respond to in such a short time. That may have been one of the reasons. But as to whether or not the people in my riding are proud to be Canadians, Mr. Speaker, I do not think that is a question. I believe on June 6, 1984, when the Inuvialuit land claim was signed with the federal government, the people were proud at that time to become part of the Canadian society and to be accepted as full Canadians.

The people were proud they were finished dealing with a country that was honourable enough to recognize their claims and felt obligated to fulfil those commitments, under the claims. Mr. Speaker, Inuvialuit on their part did their share as far as contributing towards Canadian unity.

I believe Inuvialuits felt at that time they were bringing a portion of Canada into Canada because they brought their lands with them, when they signed the claim. Mr. Speaker, there is a lot of public who are not aware there were some restrictions as to what could be negotiated at these claims, during the claims process. Inuvialuit and I believe other aboriginal groups had been told we could not consider separation and we could not consider to claim any lands that had proven oil and gas reserves or mineral deposits on them. Those were the restrictions put onto what they could claim, during the claim process. I believe that was the result of the federal policy at that time. It therefore brings to mind a question to the Inuvialuit as to why the government would consider separatism with anyone else at this point in time or any time in the future? Because we were told, as Inuvialuit that we do not have that option of sovereignty, we could not be a sovereign nation within Canada. We would have to be part of Canada. We accepted those terms, Mr. Speaker. So therefore, the question of Quebec separatism, the overall question of Canadian unity, seems to come to us as an odd statement or request that would be honoured by anyone, in particular the federal government because we were told we would be treated the same as all other groups within Canada.

We were also told the sharing of resources, in particular those resources we could not claim, would be shared by all Canadians, including Inuvialuits. We were also told that the opportunity for economic development and jobs would be given to all of us as Canadians in particular, if the development was in our area, we would be given preferential opportunities to take part in these resource developments.

Mr. Speaker, I believe the federal government has some commitments yet to fulfil in order to meet the requirements of a claim and we feel as aboriginals we are short of. The federal government will be honourable enough to fulfil those commitments under the claim.

In particular, we would like to see the federal government assure that Inuvialuit in my riding first, if development is in that area, in particular, mining or oil and gas opportunities, would be shared with Inuvialuit. We would also like to see this followed through with this government. This territorial government would have a share of the resources, within the Northwest Territories.

We would also like to see the federal government take responsibility in assuring that other aboriginal groups have a share in the resources from their area. This would assure all Canadians that we, as Canadians, have an opportunity and a right to share in the resources that are taken from our area. This would in turn show unity because it would discourage separatism. That is what I believe, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to speak on the issue of national unity. This legislature is the first one in Canada to consider the national resolution. This resolution is a result of the Committee on National Unity, consultation with people across the Northwest Territories. With that, I would like to thank the committee for their efforts.

We, as Canadians, as northerners face a challenging role as we enter into a new millennium. We are here to promote national unity and on the other hand, create two new territories. Division is not an easy process or an easy answer. Division of the Northwest Territories is a milestone for the residents of the Northwest Territories and Canada. The creation of Nunavut recognizes and affirms aboriginal peoples' inherent right to govern themselves.

It is important that the aboriginal people continue to make a contribution in an active role in any constitutional process, not only in Northwest Territories, but the rest of Canada and to the national constitutional process we have undertaken. People of the Northwest Territories have already faced a number of constitutional processes on a wide variety of issues such as division of the Northwest Territories, aboriginal issues, treaty entitlement, land claims, self-government and finally the long Royal Commission process in regard to aboriginal peoples and the report that was tabled with the federal government.

For myself as an aboriginal person, I feel strongly that the whole aboriginal agenda has to be seriously looked at along with any constitutional process in Canada, especially in regard to the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples Report and the recommendations that went along with that report. Canada is a land of opportunity and we enjoy the right of freedom to express it. However, Canada has not always been open in regard to when it came to aboriginal people and their freedoms. Historically the door has not always been open in regard to participation of aboriginal people in Canada. The history of Canada is not one of democratic participation. The door has just recently been opened to aboriginal peoples' participation in the constitutional processes in Canada. It has been through our desire to continue that process and historical work that the fathers of confederation and the goals that are not to be undone but to recognize and affirm these processes.

Aboriginal people have come a long way and the division of the Northwest Territories is proof Canada now represents and honours rights of aboriginal people, the inherent right of self-government in recognition of section 35 of the Canadian Constitution. Our future with the result, generation upon generations of Canadians making the difference by working together and not apart. We are here to rekindle a sense of national pride and commitment that all Canadians have. However, it does not end there. It is a ongoing process that strives to come together and work together for a national agenda for all Canadians, one that includes all Canadians, the aboriginal peoples and the Quebecers. I am proud to be an aboriginal person and a Canadian, with that, thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, later today I will table the report on the Ministerial Forum on Student Financial Assistance. Although a number of changes have been made to the Student Financial Assistance Program in recent years, it has not been reviewed in depth since 1980. Since that time, the number of students using the program has grown considerably. In 1994, the Auditor General of Canada raised concerns about the program's objectives, results and the management of the program's costs. To find out what northerners thought about the program and to gather their ideas on how to make it sustainable, I established the Ministerial Forum on Student Financial Assistance earlier this year.

The forum carried out consultations in Iqaluit, Inuvik and Yellowknife during the summer. Representatives from all northern communities were invited to participate. Discussions focused on four areas; access, shared responsibility, sustainability and delivery. People who could not make presentation to the ministerial forum were able to mail in their comments. In all, the forum heard from more than 225 people and organizations.

I presented the report, Mr. Speaker, to the Standing Committee on Social Programs on November 27th and invited comments on it. The forum's report includes 50 recommendations for making the Student Financial Assistance Program more responsive to the needs of students. The department will start working on options for revising the program based on the forums' recommendations. Communication with the standing committee, students, parents and communities will continue as we move through this process. The department plans to make some changes that will respond to the forum's recommendations and improve the delivery of the program by September of 1998. For example, the department will enhance support services to students by providing better orientation and preparation sessions, as well as personal followup during the initial phase of their post secondary education. The process of applying for student financial assistance will also be simplified. Long-term changes will be considered for implementation in April of 1999.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the members of the forum for their hard work and dedication to this project. The level of detail in the report shows the effort they put into ensuring a wide range of ideas and opinions represented to the government for consideration. Mr. Speaker, the members of the forum were Judy Anilniliak of Iqaluit, Ruby Jumbo of Trout Lake, Wendy Colpitts of Yellowknife and Jason Lepine of Fort Smith. The forum was chaired by Louise Vertes of Yellowknife. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.