Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In this day, it is really a special privilege for me to be able to recognize someone who many, many years ago made a great contribution to this particular institution. It was the Council of the Northwest Territories, as it was known in those days, some 32 years ago. A person who became, and she should be marked down in history for this, the first female elected in our Legislature to the Council of the Northwest Territories, the predecessor of this Legislative Assembly. It was Lena Pederson from Kuglugtuk who represented the Central Arctic. We are very privileged to have her with us today. It is a great day of distinction to have her here.
In those days, Mr. Speaker, the Council of the Northwest Territories was a little different than the makeup today. I believe it was nine Members and Lena was the second Member for the Central Arctic but, as I say, the first female representative ever of the Council of the Northwest Territories.
The history of the Council of the Northwest Territories, you must remember, goes back to the Assembly of the Assiniboines, which is almost older than the Parliament of Canada. It has great history, on our part, to have someone with us today who brings that distinction.
I understand she is getting an award today. I will not say what that award is, and she is aware of that, but Lena, we congratulate you for that. She is with us today with her daughter Nina, who is from Edmonton, as well as Peggy Welch. Please help me congratulate Lena for being with us here today and for the work that she did...
-- Applause
... as the first female representative.
-- Applause