Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to make a statement in regard to an initiative by an individual constituent of mine, Mr. James Ross, who delivers a unique program, especially in the summer months, which is called the First Nation Land Claims and the New North. These professional seminars are given in the natural beauty of the northern Yukon and also the Peel River basin area, where Mr. Ross gives a seminar based on the unique aspects of land claims, aboriginal rights and the whole history of the north,
looking at the changing process that a lot of people do not really understand when it comes to self-government negotiations and the whole process of land claims settlements.
Mr. Ross has been delivering this program for the last four or five years. Last year, he introduced a program to the South Slave area in which he conducted several seminars around the Great Slave Lake and up the Mackenzie River. This year, Mr. Ross will be conducting similar seminars up the Yukon River and several trips up the Peel River during June, July and August. Mr. Ross' unique and ambitious ways in presenting the whole concept of aboriginal rights and aboriginal history is something a lot of people in the north should take the time and the effort to understand, especially with the changing times that we find ourselves in the north with the settlement of land claims and the negotiations which are presently underway with self-government agreements. Mr. Ross has taken the ambition of presenting a unique experience of feeling what it is like living on the land and along the river system and see how the aboriginal people used to live at one time, up the Peel River area and the history of the Peel River watershed.
With that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate Mr. Ross and his endeavour with regard to offering such a unique experience. I would like other people who are interested to call Mr. Ross in regard to this ambition. Mr. Ross is currently in Hay River and you can get hold of him at (867) 874-2658 or on his Website at www.rross.nco.com. Anyone interested in this exotic adventure, take it on. Thank you.
--Applause