Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise this morning on an area of concern. Over the last number of days, I have

heard statements in the House that concern me very much, especially when we look at the way things have happened over the last few decades. Mr. Speaker, in 1967 the government moved north to be closer to the people. With this came an influx of many different people from different lands and different parts of this country we call Canada and with them many different ideals, different from the people who were born here and lived in the Northwest Territories for generations. Mr. Speaker, those ideals did not see eye-to-eye with many people that were here before.

My concern is that people in the territories, as different as we are all over Canada, need to work together. We have to find a way of cooperating that is going to lead to success, not find a way that is going to lead to destruction, to chaos and to people just not getting along. For years we have seen an influx of people into the Territories and have helped the people of the Territories and, in some cases, have hurt the people of the Territories. There is no magic in what we can do with affirmative action or any other policy this government puts forward. It is the people that count, not the words written on paper. As Members of this Assembly, we have to try and put forward the best part of all peoples in the Territories, not one over another and not one trying to assimilate another.

Mr. Speaker, I come from a mixed relationship. My father was a non-aboriginal and my mother was an aboriginal. I do not say one way should be over another. Instead, I see the way it needs to work together. From what I have been hearing from around this table, I see we have a long ways to go in this House and in this government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause