Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to report to this Legislative Assembly that the Tlicho Land Claims and Self-Government Agreement was signed in Rae on August 25, 2003.
I had the pleasure to sign this historic and important agreement on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories along with Premier Kakfwi. I am also pleased to note that many other Members of the Legislative Assembly were able to travel to Rae to participate in the ceremony.
Mr. Speaker, Grand Chief Joe Rabesca, Chief Eddie Paul Rabesca, Chief Joseph Judas, Chief Charlie Nitsiza and Chief Archie Wetrade signed the agreement on behalf of the Tlicho people. Finally, Mr. Speaker, the Honourable Robert Nault, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development, signed on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the importance of this agreement with the Tlicho people, the Northwest Territories and Canada, Prime Minister Chretien also attended the ceremony and witnessed the agreement on behalf of the Government of Canada.
Mr. Speaker, I congratulate the Tlicho people on this incredible accomplishment. As I have previously reported to this Assembly, the Tlicho agreement is unique. It will be the first treaty in the Northwest Territories to address the inherent right of self-government. It is also the first land claims agreement whose settlement area has extensive overlap with lands used by other aboriginal people.
The Tlicho agreement is also unique in Northwest Territories claims in that the Tlicho will have both surface and sub-surface ownership of a single block of land totalling about 39,000 square kilometres surrounding their four communities.
Mr. Speaker, as someone who has been personally involved in this negotiating process since its very early stages, I believe that the Tlicho agreement has set a new standard for land and self-government claims across the country. For the first time, aboriginal people will not be required to cede or surrender their aboriginal rights as a result of this treaty. This is a huge step forward and one that aboriginal people have been trying to achieve for a great many years.
Mr. Speaker, the Tlicho agreement was also unique because of the way the public and interested groups were invited to comment on the draft agreement. Following the first initialling of the agreement by chief negotiators last September, the agreement was released to the public for review and comment to assist negotiators to amend and improve the agreement.
In October 2002, the chief negotiators sent letters to about 40 groups and organizations, including aboriginal organizations, offering to meet with them to discuss any concerns or suggestions they may have with respect to the agreement.
The chief negotiators met with seven aboriginal organizations and 10 other groups who requested meetings. The Tlicho also had bilateral discussions with the Deh Cho First Nations and the Akaitcho Dene First Nations to discuss overlap issues. They subsequently signed an overlap agreement with the Deh Cho in Fort Providence on October 31, 2002, and with Akaitcho on November 27, 2002.
Mr. Speaker, when the revised agreement was initialed for a second time early in 2003, the ratification process was set in motion. On June 27, 2003, the Tlicho people overwhelmingly ratified the agreement. The Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada subsequently approved the agreement leading to the signing ceremony in Rae on August 25.
Mr. Speaker, I firmly believe this agreement should be welcomed by all people in the Northwest Territories and those who wish to invest in the Northwest Territories, as the agreement clarifies land ownership and jurisdiction over a large portion of the Northwest Territories. It also clarifies the future relationship between the Tlicho government, the GNWT and Canada. The next step for the GNWT is to work with the Tlicho and Canada to bring forward legislation required for the agreement to come into effect.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to acknowledge the efforts of the many people on all sides of the table who worked so hard for so long to make this agreement a reality. I would also like to thank the community of Rae for hosting a very well-organized ceremony and for the outstanding hospitality. I know that Prime Minister Chretien certainly enjoyed himself. He indicated that the next time he comes to Rae, he wants to use the paddle he received as a gift to go fishing with Grand Chief Rabesca.
Mr. Speaker, I am very proud to have been a part of the Legislative Assembly that contributed to reaching this historic agreement. An agreement that provides the Tlicho people with the tools to secure their economic future and to take their rightful place as a new government in the Northwest Territories.
Finally, and most importantly, Mr. Speaker, I would like to congratulate the elders, people and leadership of the Tlicho on this remarkable and historic accomplishment. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
---Applause