Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good morning. Mr. Speaker, today is Heritage Day. Every year the Heritage Canada Foundation proclaims the third Monday of February as Heritage Day and coordinates activities across Canada. The foundation has chosen as its theme this year the 100th anniversary of the Yukon Territory's entry into Confederation. In the NWT, cultural organizations have selected themes and activities which are appropriate to their communities. I would like to inform the Members of this Assembly of some of the activities that will be carried out across the NWT. In Iqaluit, the Nunatta Sunakkutaangit Museum is planning a week-long demonstration of Inuit games and will exhibit a heritage-careers display prepared by Education, Culture and Employment staff. In Baker Lake, the Inuit Heritage Centre is assisting community elders in recording traditional songs, which will be put on a compact disc for use by the community.
The Norman Wells Historical Centre will present films from the National Film Board to local school groups today. The Northern Life Museum in Fort Smith has planned a week-long series of traditional craft demonstrations, organized by the Youth Environmental Corps project. Yesterday, the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre held an Amazing Sundays event, which focused on the Arctic explorer, Vilhjalmur Stefansson. Activities included a live history performance by well-known author and actor, Jamie Bastedo, a showing of the Nation Film Board movie Stefansson, the Arctic Prophet, a tour of the Stefansson artifacts in the north gallery and dog sled rides on Frame Lake. Although the Northern Heritage Centre is normally closed to the public on Mondays, the doors will be open today to encourage participation in Heritage Day events. Special activities include a heritage film festival, as well as Heritage Day crafts and quizzes.
Our ties to culture and heritage are strong here in the north. These ties give us a sense of identity and community, and help to give us confidence in our future. Heritage Day is an excellent opportunity to celebrate our vast and beautiful land, to reaffirm values, ideals and aspirations that are important to our identity. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.