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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, honourable Members. Mr. Speaker, I urge this government to make it a priority to address the needs of these children and their families. It must start now so that they have a fighting chance of being successful, productive adults. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

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

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I too would like to take this opportunity to congratulate the Gwich'in, the Inuvialuit, the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories for the next big step towards concluding self-government, which is the signing of the agreement-in-principle in Inuvik this Sunday.

Mr. Speaker, the Gwich'in and the Inuvialuit have asked Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories to negotiate self-government agreements and because of those provisions, self-government is possible through the Gwich'in Land Claim Agreement and the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. The Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories have recognized aboriginal people have that so-called inherent right to self-government, which is guaranteed in the Canadian constitution. That means that they agree that aboriginal people have the legal right to govern themselves.

I have been involved in the land claims process for many years and have seen the Mackenzie Delta and Beaufort Sea evolve over time to where we are ready for self-government. We have the institutions. We have the economic base and we have the people to take it on.

Mr. Speaker, it is an important day and time, not only for the Gwich'in, the Inuvialuit and our governments, but it is an important time in history for Canada to recognize the First Nations people who had government institutions long before the contact with the Europeans. I for one feel that it is time that we took that next step and gave the people of the regions, the people of our communities, the tools and the ability to govern themselves and have a say in how programs and services are run not only here in Yellowknife or with the government institution that is here, but it has to be closer to the communities and closer to our regions in ensuring that those agreements-in-principle for self-government are implemented and lived up to.

With that, Mr. Speaker, I will be in Inuvik on Sunday for this celebration and I hope that all Ministers and Members who are able to be there attend, because this is an important time in our history, to strive for self-government and the conclusion of our land claims for the Inuvialuit and the Gwich'in. Thank you.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Krutko. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Sahtu, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last night the national symposium we had on the living history of the Northwest Territories had a banquet. All of us were not fortunate enough to take the time to attend, but I did go over for an hour. What happened last night was after the banquet, they honoured some 35 people from across the Territories, some of whom are no longer alive. They have passed away. They were honoured.

They also honoured a number of very, very distinguished leaders who are now very much becoming our elders of today. I wanted to mention that I was not there for all of them, but the short time I was there, about an hour, it was incredibly moving. I was there when Bertha Allen from the Delta, in Inuvik, was recognized and honoured by the symposium. She is very much an elder now, but she still has more energy than most people today.

Charlie Snowshoe, who has served the people of the Delta in Fort McPherson all his life, was there. He is now very much an elder, but still very determined, very focused and looking very distinguished with his very long, white hair.

Sara Hardisty, from the Deh Cho, who has contributed significantly to the enrichment of our culture through her sewing and traditional work and the teaching she has done over the years.

Father Pochat, of Fort Rae, who has been given credit for the way that Grandin College had turned out a great number of very significant leaders who have served the Northwest Territories over the years, was honoured.

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

Thank you, honourable Member, you still have a few seconds left. The honourable Member, in anticipation, is seeking unanimous consent to conclude his statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. You may conclude your statement, Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I believe that at some point or other, we need to give a more comprehensive statement about all of the people who were recognized.

Also recognized was someone who has been largely overlooked in our history, and it is Leon Sambele of Fort Providence, who passed away in the early 70s. Leon Sambele was a supervisor at Grandin College in the early years and he served as a role model for many of us. I was 12 years old when I met Leon. He was a very tall, incredibly striking young man who demonstrated a lot of confidence and determination. He taught us how to play as a team, study, work hard, stand up for ourselves, and how to stand straight and be confident in the face of discrimination and difficulties. He was involved in the early years leading up to the Organization of the Indian Brotherhood and did some work in the community of Fort Providence. He helped build the original community lot facility there, apparently. Just recently, the chief had announced that the refurbished, renovated old community hall there was named the Leon Sambele Community Hall in his honour.

All of these people were there. There were more than those I have mentioned, but it gives you an idea of what it was we were missing yesterday when we were doing our very important work here in this House. As the MLA for the Sahtu, I thought it important for me to let the people of the Sahtu know that I am duty bound to be here when the session is here, but as well, there is compelling reason to show up at symposiums and conferences when our people are there.

Last night the Gwich'in were there, the Inuvialuit people of the Deh Cho, the Akaitcho people were there, along with the Dogrib and the Metis. They sat there for over six hours celebrating our history, our leaders, those who are serving and those who have passed on. Former Commissioner Stu Hodgson, John Parker, many of the former Premiers and leaders of our governments today. Today Governor General...

Sorry, Mr. Kakfwi, your extension is up. Mr. Kakfwi.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. So I will be there today to close at the end of the session, which I expect will be no later than 6 o'clock. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Inuvik Twin Lakes, Mr. Allen.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I am looking forward to celebrating National Aboriginal Day on June 21st, 2002. It will indeed be a special day for all of the people of the Northwest Territories. All the people have the opportunity of joining our celebration and reflect on the many cultures that surround us. The communities across the North are hard at work, preparing and organizing events to commemorate this historic event.

Mr. Speaker, my home town of Inuvik is busy planning, like all other communities in the Northwest Territories. The Town of Inuvik will be holding a community barbecue, many cultural events, northern and Dene games, the community feast, the jigging contest and the old time fiddle dance to help celebrate National Aboriginal Day.

Mr. Speaker, with so many different ethnicities in our home town, I am very pleased to see that the whole town is coming together to share what is important to the aboriginal community. It is, simply put, an important community celebration. Mr. Speaker, I will be joining my constituents and my fellow community members in these celebrations.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, I would like to draw the Members of this Assembly's attention to the jacket I am wearing. The significance of this jacket exemplifies the uniqueness of our common heritage. I would like to thank my honourable colleague from North Slave for allowing me to showcase such a beautiful jacket from his home community. To show that, I wear it proudly in recognition of our cultural identity. So, Mr. Speaker, before I close, I would just like to say, happy National Aboriginal Day to all. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Allen. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Delorey.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to bring attention to an area of health care delivery that affects a great number of my constituents and indeed a large number of women throughout the Northwest Territories. The issue at hand, Mr. Speaker, is the delivery of mammograms within the health care system.

Mr. Speaker, I have heard from several constituents lately about the problems they are encountering in having mammograms performed. There are instances, Mr. Speaker where Hay River women have been referred by a doctor for a mammogram in Yellowknife. When they arrive here, there is no technician on duty to perform the mammogram and they are being sent home.

Mr. Speaker, some of these women are without health care coverage and are having to pay the $250 deductible for their airfare to Yellowknife. In addition, they are having to take a day off work without pay, and they are being refused a mammogram once they get to Yellowknife. These women are having a further expense for a return trip to Yellowknife through no fault of their own.

I am appalled, Mr. Speaker. The medical community talks at length about the advantages of early detection and we cannot even get our Hay River women tested to rule out the horrible and often-times deadly disease called breast cancer.

Mr. Speaker, by returning these women to Hay River without a mammogram, it further delays the possible detection of breast cancer, never mind the prolonged emotional roller coaster that these ladies are on.

Mr. Speaker, I have also recently received information from my constituents that the mammogram van will not be travelling to Hay River this year. Last year, there were 175 Hay River women who received mammograms and breast cancer screenings through this program. Now, they are told that the money cannot be raised to bring this badly needed service to Hay River. I am told that the maximum cost for this service would be $15,000.

Mr. Speaker, I would think that surely, this Department of Health and Social Services could find this money somewhere within their budget to accommodate the women of Hay River.

Sadly, Mr. Speaker, we have just recently lost some very fine women to breast cancer in Hay River. Surely my colleagues would agree with me that this government cannot put a price on human life.

Mr. Speaker, if mammograms turn up even one instance of breast cancer and a life is saved, then this is surely worth the relatively small cost involved in mammography. At the appropriate time, Mr. Speaker, I will have further questions for the Minister responsible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

-- Applause

Thank you, Mr. Delorey. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for North Slave, Mr. Lafferty.

Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. As a Metis, I sometimes have aboriginal days.

-- Laughter

Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Antoine.

Mahsi, Mr. Antoine. Item 3, Members' statements. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Nitah.

Mr. Nitah, your time is up. Mr. Nitah.

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