Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I rise in this House today to honour and remember our elders. Mr. Speaker, we have lost many valued elders over the past several years, and I wish to acknowledge all of their contributions that they have made to the development here in the North, as well as to their families, their traditional homelands and to their communities.
On behalf of the people of Nahendeh, I offer sincere condolences to my colleague, Michael McLeod, on the recent passing of his father. I trust that Michael and his family will forever remember with fondness the lessons and examples provided to them by their dearly departed father, Angus.
In my constituency of Nahendeh, we have lost several of our respected elders over the past year. I would like to remember their lives and accomplishments. They are Margaret Douglas, Mary Ann Martel, Edward Horesey, Lucy McPherson, Julie Deneyoua, Margruiete Edwards, William Cli, Henry Tsetso, better known as ahtzehia, Lucy Cli, and Bernadette Bonnetrouge, who was my aunt as well as my godmother. She passed away on February 3.
As well, Celine Lafferty of Fort Simpson. She also passed away last week. The community and family just recently celebrated her 100th birthday, so she has been with us for many, many years and contributed to the family and the communities.
In the community of Wrigley, Andrew Klugie, who is better known as Andrew Rude. He is my brother, Jerry Antoine's father in-law. He passed away as well this fall. The elder Harry Yendi and Archie Williams of Wrigley. They all leave behind a legacy. Their legacy is by the lives that they have lived among us and what they have shared with all of us in our communities. They will be missed and never forgotten. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.