Mr. Speaker, over the last four years, the Government of the Northwest Territories, through the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs, has pursued a fast packed and ambitious agenda. I will take this opportunity to highlight the key achievements during the term of the 14th Legislative Assembly.
The mandate of the ministry is to manage and coordinate the participation of the Government of the Northwest Territories in all lands, resources and self-government negotiations. The ministry is also responsible for negotiating and developing implementation plans and providing strategic advice on aboriginal relations at a territorial and national level.
Mr. Speaker, one of the most symbolic achievements of the Legislative Assembly over the last four years was the implementation of legislation that recognizes the special meaning of National Aboriginal Day for the people of the Northwest Territories and establishes June 21st as a statutory holiday in our territory. The Northwest Territories is the first jurisdiction in Canada to take this step. By passing this legislation, we acknowledge the values, traditions, languages and cultures of the Dene, Metis and Inuvialuit that have helped define who we are as Northerners and residents of this territory.
I believe that the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs has maintained this spirit in all its work over the last four years. We have worked closely with aboriginal people and other governments to achieve the vision of the 14th Assembly. We have built mutually respectful and cooperative partnerships with aboriginal governments and we have seen the benefits of investing in these relationships. As well, we have participated in negotiations that resulted in key milestones and sat at several lands, resources and self-government negotiating tables.
Two final agreements and two agreements-in-principle are in place and we have made major progress with negotiations at a number of tables during the last four years. Currently we are negotiating or finalizing agreements with many aboriginal groups. These groups include the Tlicho, the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit, the Deline First Nations, the Deh Cho First Nations, the Akaitcho First Nations, the Northwest Territory Metis Nation and the Manitoba and Saskatchewan Denesuline. We have just begun the process of negotiating a self-government agreement with Tulita.
The Dogrib Treaty 11 Council, the Government of Canada and the GNWT recently signed the Tlicho agreement in August. We have been working intensely on taking the necessary steps towards implementing the agreement. Mr. Speaker, after almost 10 years of negotiations, this is truly an historic agreement. It is the first combined land claim and self-government modern-day treaty in the NWT. Most recently we have begun the process towards implementation. The Tlicho settlement legislation is currently before this House.
Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Government of Canada and the community of Deline signed the Deline self-government agreement-in-principle on August 23rd, setting the stage for final agreement negotiations. This agreement is the foundation for the first self-government agreement in the Northwest Territories at the district level. Mr. Speaker, after seven years of negotiations, this is the second agreement-in-principle completed within the life of this Assembly.
On April 16, 2003, the Government of the Northwest Territories, the Government of Canada and the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit signed the Gwich'in and Inuvialuit self-government agreement-in-principle for the Beaufort-Delta region. As the first standalone regional self-government agreement that combines the inherent right of two aboriginal peoples towards self-government, this achievement is truly unique.
Mr. Speaker the first final agreement we signed during this Assembly was the Salt River First Nation treaty land entitlement in June 2002. This agreement established the first reserve in the North since the Hay River Reserve. The Salt River First Nation receives over $83 million and reserve land in and around Fort Smith and in Wood Buffalo National Park.
By working in close cooperation with the Aboriginal Summit, we have taken a step closer to the self-sufficiency and prosperity that the transfer of administration and control of public land and resources will bring to our territory.
Mr. Speaker, a framework for the devolution agreement was initialed in July 2003. This is an important step in the process. It demonstrates the parties' agreement on how negotiations will take place, the scope of the negotiations and the target dates. The framework agreement will serve as a roadmap for negotiations. The next step is an agreement-in-principle and the final stage will be the devolution transfer.
Mr. Speaker, the milestones I have just outlined are the major achievements that the Members of the 14th Assembly can be proud of. I am encouraged by the progress we have made over the term of this Assembly, and I look forward to continued progress in the negotiation and implementation of lands, resources and self-government agreements in the Northwest Territories.
In closing, I would like to commend the staff at the Ministry of Aboriginal Affairs for their hard work and commitment to achieving the goals set by this Assembly. Mahsi cho.
---Applause