Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to inform the Members that a National Aboriginal Youth Conference will be convening this week in Edmonton, Alberta. The conference will run through the weekend of October 26th to 28th.

Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories has been actively involved in efforts over the past several years establishing and participating in an ongoing ministerial level process for the federal, provincial and territorial jurisdictions and the five national aboriginal organizations to cooperate on aboriginal issues.

Mr. Speaker, this National Aboriginal Youth Conference is one product of our work through this process. The objective of the conference this week is to seek input from our aboriginal youth into that strategy. One hundred and twenty delegates have been selected by the six national aboriginal organizations and, in addition, each jurisdiction selected delegates.

Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to tell the Members of this Assembly that 13 young aboriginal residents from across the NWT will be participating in this conference. Representing the NWT's aboriginal youth will be Crystal Menicoche from Fort Simpson, Ben Wright and Twyla Amos from Inuvik, Dianna Zoe from Wha Ti, Stephen Allen and Cynthia Mandeville from Hay River, Crystal Coleman and Michelle Bjornson from Fort Smith, Lorraine Bezha, Anne Marie Jackson, Inga Gardland and Agnes Estemba from Yellowknife and Jill Olfie from Holman. I am delighted that I will have the privilege of accompanying them to hear firsthand what they and others have to say.

Mr. Speaker, I look forward to sharing the results of the National Aboriginal Youth Conference with the Members of this Assembly in the coming months. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.