Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as has already been noted in this House by my colleagues, Friday the 21st is the first statutory holiday to formally recognize National Aboriginal Day. In my constituency, which is a multi-cultural constituency with an aboriginal majority, this particular time has a special significance.
Mr. Speaker, in addition to a full slate of community activities, of which I encourage all constituents to attend, the 21st will set the stage for the 22nd, where there will be a signing of the Salt River First Nations Land Claim Agreement through the TLE process, a process that has been 100 years in the works, falling on the Smiths Landing Settlement of slightly over a year ago.
This is a very historic day for the Salt River people and I want to commend them for their perseverance and diligence. They have chosen a path to a goal, of which they have reached. They have seen that their families and friends in Smiths Landing have benefited from the approach they have taken. It has been a very long struggle. While the land claim was actually ratified in February, this will be the formal signing with Minister Nault, the Premier and Minister Antoine.
In addition to that, Mr. Speaker, it is also a good day on the 22nd because the South Slave Metis plan to sign an interim agreement that will help move their claims process along. Mr. Speaker, that is two claims settled with one to go. For us, that will be a singular achievement and something that we all look forward to. The Salt River First Nations will be like their companions in Smiths Landing. They will have lands, they will have cash, they will have economic means to engage in development as they see fit. Now the people from Salt River will have that benefit.
National Aboriginal Day for our community is going to have a special significance. It will be a milestone for many people. I would like to congratulate all people of the Salt River First Nations and thank them for their perseverance. I would like to thank the federal government and, of course, the territorial government for being there to make sure the process reached the conclusion that it did. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause