Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As you spoke of literacy yesterday in your address, today I rise to bring forward a message on the same topic. Communication has been a part of our lives since the beginning of time. Our ancestry used many forms to communicate, in some cultures the drum is an important communicator, others used smoke and others used different forms of writing on different objects. My ancestors would communicate by writing in the snow, using charcoal to write with and many other signals and forms of writing. These are all forms of literacy. In today's world, one must know how to read and write in English to move ahead. However, we, as aboriginal people, cannot forget our history, our culture and most importantly, our language. Yesterday was Literacy Action Day across the north and I hope all our residents recognize how important literacy is for the survival of our language and our culture. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause