Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as we celebrate National Aboriginal Day, I would like to briefly reflect on Fort Smith as a possible model for what National Aboriginal Day is all about.

Mr. Speaker, Fort Smith, as you well know, is a multi-cultural community. About a third of the people are Dene, a third Metis and a third are people from many other places from across the world.

This is a community that has a tremendously long history of living together, of ties of blood and commerce and time together. Over the past five years, Mr. Speaker, there has been a clear recognition that there are three main groups in the community when it comes to decision making.

There is the community public government, the band and the Metis. Major issues are now discussed by the community leadership. We attempt to move ahead together. There have been agreements reached on how the DEA should be structured, with guaranteed seats and appointments for the band, town and Metis in equal portions. It is the same with the health board, as well as the housing board.

There has been a common approach in terms of developing the community plan and our strategy in trying to resolve the seniors' housing issue in Fort Smith. I think we are demonstrating by these actions that there is a great role to be played by the aboriginal governments at all levels, and we can work and live together.

We recognize and respect the roles we all have to play. We also greatly respect and admire many of the aboriginal models we have, role models in our community. To name a few, and not to exclude anyone, but some who just come to mind: Mary Hearn; Jane Dragon; and Maggie Kurszewski, fine elders in our community. Some athletes like Jonathan Kurszewski; Don True; and Joe Dragon, all of whom have demonstrated very well that they can compete at any level with anybody in the land or world.

In our community, we are tremendously proud to see the progress we are achieving in terms of self-government and land claims. Smith's Landing First Nation has recently signed a land claims agreement. This is going to be a tremendous benefit not only to the members, but to the community as well.

The Salt River First Nation is pursuing treaty land entitlement as well, as are the South Slave Metis with their negotiations for a settlement. When these are resolved, Mr. Speaker, in our neck of the woods, we will be able to get on with the other issues of the day, such as economic development, dealing with social issues and moving ahead as a community.

National Aboriginal Day is an opportunity to recognize all the good work that has been done by the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories. I am proud to stand here today to say that our community is doing a fine job. The aboriginal governments and the aboriginal people, along with the non-aboriginal people, are demonstrating that we do have a strong future together in the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

-- Applause