Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays, Mr. Dent. You may conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, with help, NGOs could access a lot more federal dollars, effectively multiplying a small investment in one salary into many more dollars in the social area in the Northwest Territories. How long will we continue to miss out on opportunities to access third-party funding that could be helping to improve the lives of all Northwest Territories residents? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Thebacha, Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, on this, possibly the last day of the Third Session, I would like to speak of a couple of activities that are taking place in my constituency tomorrow and on the weekend.

As part of recognizing International Women's Day tomorrow there is going to be a luncheon sponsored by the Tawow Society in Fort Smith. It is going to be held at the arena hall and will be catered to by the Thebacha cooking class, of whom I can personally attest puts out gourmet-style meals with the students they have there. They have some fine instructors. I think it will be a very nice part of this very important celebration.

Mr. Speaker, the theme for this particular luncheon is going to be the important dates in Canadian women's history, starting from 1907 to the present. It is going to be spoken to by many of the local women.

I would also like to recognize as part of this effort the work of the executive director of the Tawow Society, Carol Jordan and, of course, the many volunteers who have assisted her in pulling together this function.

On another positive note, Mr. Speaker, this weekend is the weekend for our annual carnival, the Wood Buffalo Frolics. With the weather being as it is, I would like to encourage everybody who takes part in the many activities to be careful.

I would like to recognize as well the work of Anne Heron and the many volunteers who have pulled this event together for the weekend to allow the community to celebrate hopefully what will be the advent of spring.

Mr. Speaker, these are just two examples of how we rely on volunteers in our communities and how much less community life would be without people such as the folks who have put their efforts into organizing these two important events. I would like to acknowledge once again all the fine work of the volunteers in the community of Fort Smith. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Miltenberger. Déclarations de députés. Le député de la Deh Cho, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to inform the Legislative Assembly of the continuing progress of the Deh Cho First Nations. During the week of February 12th to 16th, 2001, the Deh Cho First Nations held their winter leadership meeting in Fort Providence.

The Dene and the Metis of the Deh Cho passed a unanimous resolution approving the initialling of the Deh Cho First Nation Formal Agreement and Interim Measures Agreement. The Deh Cho Process will result in a unique and unprecedented self-government process for the region. The government structure will be a public government based on Dene values and principles. This is a process which should be promoted and encouraged by this Legislative Assembly, as the Deh Cho Process is the route that will see the Dene and the Metis of the Deh Cho realize their rights as per the Constitution Act, 1982.

The Deh Cho leadership has passed a resolution with respect to the bidding of oil and gas exploration licenses which will ensure sustainable development of the Deh Cho lands and resources. The Deh Cho First Nations will also negotiate an Interim Resource Development Agreement that will set out benefits in the areas of royalties, resource revenues and community support.

The Deh Cho First Nations is in the process of expanding and finalizing this land-use mapping of our traditional territory. This will provide a foundation and background for future development of the Deh Cho territory. Much of this work has already been completed, however, environmental work that will give a comprehensive picture of the ecosystems needs to be done.

Together, traditional knowledge and scientific environmental study will provide a solid footing for any future development in the Deh Cho. The Deh Cho First Nations will also use mapping information to negotiate land withdrawals before moving into phase two, which will result in an agreement-in-principle and a final agreement. They will also strive to implement initiatives in the area of economic development and governance this year.

The Deh Cho First Nations sees the Aboriginal Summit and the Intergovernmental Forum as potential interference to the Deh Cho Process. They intend to observe and monitor the activities of the summit and the forum to ensure those activities do not prejudice the Deh Cho Process in any way. The Framework Agreement and Interim Measures Agreement will be signed at a public ceremony within the Deh Cho territory. The date has not been set at this point.

Mr. Speaker, Treaties 8 and 11 and the Deh Cho Declaration of 1993 confirm that the Dene and the Metis of the Deh Cho have the right to govern lands and resources of...

Mr. McLeod, the time for your Member's statement has ended.

Mr. Speaker, I seek consent to conclude my statement.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There being no nays, Mr. McLeod, you may conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In conclusion, Mr. Speaker, Treaties 8 and 11 and the Deh Cho Declaration of 1993 confirmed that the Dene and the Metis of the Deh Cho have the right to govern lands and resources of the Deh Cho. The Deh Cho Process is an open process and I will continue to provide updates to the Legislative Assembly. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Merci, Mr. McLeod. Déclarations de députés. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Braden.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. International Women's Day for 2001 will be celebrated tomorrow. Around the world, this is a symbol of women's efforts to shape a better tomorrow. In recognition of this day, I would like to acknowledge the significant contributions of helping and healing organizations to community life in Yellowknife that are located in the constituency of Great Slave.

The YWCA of Yellowknife opened in September of 1966, Mr. Speaker. It was a residence for young single women coming to Yellowknife from across the North to take advantage of education, training and jobs. The provision of safe housing for women was a core need then and today, 35 years later, the YWCA still counts safe housing for women and their children as their number one priority.

Related to this, I applaud the efforts of the Member for Frame Lake, the honourable Charles Dent, and the Minister responsible for the Housing Corporation, the Honourable Roger Allen, for their good work with the Women's Centre, the YWCA and the Salvation Army in making the former detox centre on Franklin Avenue here in Yellowknife available for the Women's Centre Shelter Program. This is an excellent example of enhancing partnerships with the community, about which I spoke last week.

To further support women in crisis, the YWCA and the Yellowknife Women's Centre were instrumental in starting the new Women and Children's Healing and Recovery Centre. This pilot program has been established in Yellowknife to provide support to women who suffer from trauma and addictions. The program includes therapeutic, life skills and literacy programs. They are working with a network of community partners focusing on the daily needs of women and their children and providing a continuum of care. This approach will also serve as a model for all northern women whose lives have been affected by trauma.

Mr. Speaker, the success of the above programs illustrates the benefit of community partnerships and the commitment of women to address barriers that prevent them from participating in community life and programs. Our successes and achievements are best measured with the positive impacts at the grass-roots level. I acknowledge the contribution and accomplishments of the YWCA and the Healing and Recovery Program during International Women's Week. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Braden. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to take the time to recognize International Women's Day tomorrow, recognizing the importance that women play in our day-to-day lives and also in our communities. They play many roles, from leadership roles in being our chiefs, our councillors, our band members and also working within organizations such as social services departments, health centres, schools and also working on different councils, the band councils, the hamlet councils and Inuvialuit organizations. They take care of our elders, being the caregivers that they are. I would also like to acknowledge the women who work in our churches.

I feel that women play a very important role in all of our lives, being our grandmothers, our mothers and our sisters. The communities have changed because of the roles women have played in our lives by taking on responsibilities where they feel it is important to do so.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank all the women in the Northwest Territories who have given that extra effort to take on those responsibilities which may be vacant, where they feel they have to do better in improving the lives of their children, their grandchildren and the community as a whole.

On that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to also recognize the many women who are going to be recognized with the Wise Women Awards this year, especially Hazel Nerysoo of Fort McPherson. Hazel has been doing some great things in the community of Fort McPherson. Hazel has been a sub-chief, a councillor, an alcohol and drug counsellor through the Tl'oondih program. She has worked as a parole officer and continues to work in places where volunteers are needed.

Hazel never hesitates to be there for the many people who need her. Besides all of that, Hazel is also a mother of five children and has been married to her husband, James Nerysoo, and also adopted other children to improve their lives. I believe that women such as Hazel and other women in the Territory are examples that we have to live up to, to show that we can accomplish...

Excuse me, Mr. Krutko, the time for your Member's statement is over.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude.

Thank you. The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There being no nays, Mr. Krutko, you may conclude.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the many roles that women play in our lives is what established the critical positions we see ourselves in today. Also, the support I receive from the many women within my riding when I need someone to talk to or just have someone there, knowing they are listening with an ear also listening to them. With that, I would like to thank all the women for the hard work they have done and for the success we see in our communities. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Mr. Nitah, the time for your Member's statement has concluded.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There being no nays, Mr. Nitah, you may conclude.