Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Please be seated. Mr. Speaker, Members of the Legislative Assembly, I am pleased to welcome you to this First Session of the 14th Legislative Assembly.
I extend warm greetings to the returning Members and to the new faces that I see around the Chamber today. I welcome the guests in the public gallery and people watching on television.
First of all, I would like to congratulate Mr. Tony Whitford on his election as Speaker. The Members of this Assembly have chosen well in selecting a person of your good judgement for this vital position.
Before I go any further, I would like to reflect on the very significant New Year's Day that has just passed. On January 1, we crossed into a new millennium. This date brought with it the optimism not only of a new year, but also of a new century. It also brought fears that computer technology could break down and cause an emergency.
As we all know, there were no problems here in the North, and that is due to the hard work of many different people. I would like to recognize, on behalf of all the citizens of the Northwest Territories, the efforts of the Department of National Defence, the RCMP, government staff, private business and volunteers who dealt with this situation. These people worked through the year to prevent any problems and were on duty over New Year's in case anything did go wrong. Many of them - particularly the military, police and some government employees - gave up their holidays to do this. In the words of our national anthem, which we heard so eloquently, they stood on guard for our safety and I thank them on behalf of all of us here in the Northwest Territories.
I am pleased to report that I recently visited the Sahtu region and I am grateful to the MLA Stephen Kakfwi, and his staff for their assistance. On that tour, six more people received the Commissioner's Award for Public Service.
Charlie Barnaby of Fort Good Hope was the longest-serving chief in the Mackenzie Valley. He remains dedicated to preserving his people's language and culture and to passing traditions on to young people. He is a very strong traditionalist.
Wilfred Jackson started the Hunters and Trappers Association in Fort Good Hope twenty years ago, and he is still working at it. He has also worked with young offenders, teaching them land skills.
Paul Baton of Deline still runs his own fishing boat at the age of 83 and takes great pleasure in sharing his skills and knowledge with others. He has served as chief in both Tulita and Deline.
Isadore Yukon of Deline has served his community as chief and as mayor. He worked as a river pilot on the Great Bear and Mackenzie Rivers. He has also received the Order of Canada for his contributions to life in his community.
The late Paul Wright of Tulita was a very strong advocate of preserving Dene legends and oral history. Wherever he went, he shared his stories and the music of the drum. He served as chief from 1981-88. Paul received this award in his home, surrounded by his friends. I was very happy that I had a chance to see him before he passed away. It was a great loss not only to his community but to the Northwest Territories as a whole.
Monica Loomis came to Norman Wells as a nurse in 1960. She and her husband now run their own business, but it is not unusual for Monica to drop everything to help someone in need. She also provides counselling as a lay minister in Norman Wells.
I also had the pleasure of presenting the Commissioner's Award for Bravery to Michel Lafferty of Fort Good Hope. Michel saved the life of his sister-in-law, Lucy Ann, when their snowmobile went through the ice on the Hume River and they fell into the water. Michel pulled Lucy Ann from the river and, although they were both freezing, kept her walking towards home until help arrived.
When I reflect on these people and others I have met during my time as Commissioner, I am again reminded of our national anthem. When I look about, I see the "true north, strong and free." This spirit is in all the award recipients as well as all people who are committed and work tirelessly for their community.
The Northwest Territories is a great place, full of hardworking, creative, caring people. We stand now at the beginning of an important new era in our history. This is the first Legislative Assembly since the creation of two new territories last year.
Each of the Members of this Assembly has the responsibility of representing their constituents and of ensuring the government does its best to serve the people of the Northwest Territories. In this Assembly, you have the added responsibility of building a new Territory.
Mr. Speaker, I offer you and this Assembly my best wishes as you begin this First Session of the new Territory and the new century. I have every confidence you will serve the people of the Northwest Territories in a way that will make all of us proud.
As Commissioner of the Northwest Territories, I now declare open the First Session of the 14th Assembly of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.