Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Being a Friday, and as we begin to look forward to the close of the Fourth Session of the 14th Legislative Assembly, I was asked by my constituents to make a Member's statement in memory of a fond uncle and friend to many in the Northwest Territories and Nunavut. Mr. Speaker, I am speaking of the late Abe Okpik, first Eskimo appointed to the Northwest Territories Council in 1965. His picture hangs on the wall of the entrance to the Cabinet offices along with the many distinguished councillors.

We are proud of Abe's accomplishments. He was a Governor General Award recipient and named to the Order of Canada for his involvement with Project Surname in the 1960's. He was often referred to as a diplomat for the Western Arctic, although he spent much of his life, as he would say, patrolling the East. As his son Roy said in his obituary, Uncle Abe wanted to be buried in the East, but his spirit remains in the West.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I hope that the request to make this statement has been fulfilled by yours truly for the constituents of Inuvik Twin Lakes. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause