Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I really appreciate the opportunity in this Legislative Assembly as an ordinary MLA to stand up and say a few things with regard to my views as MLA. I just wanted to maybe talk briefly about this time of the year after the long cold winter we endured, after three months of close to 40 below, it's much appreciated to see this kind of warm weather coming about. Mr. Speaker, I grew up in the Fort Simpson region about 30 kilometres up the Mackenzie in a place called Rabbit Skin. In my language we call it Gah Dhiah. I always looked forward to seeing water and travelling along the Mackenzie River growing up and I still occasionally do that whenever I have an opportunity to go into my constituency. Three of the last four years, Mr. Speaker, I have had the opportunity to explore our backyards down in the Mackenzie by going up the northern Nahanni River twice and canoeing out of there. Last summer, I canoed out of the Root River. It's a beautiful experience. I would rather do that on my holidays than go south and spend lots of dollars and be more tired coming back.
---Applause
So I like that experience. It brings me to the point that the students from the Charles Yohin School in Nahanni Butte collected money and organized a trip for themselves and their parents to the Nahanni National Park and that's where they are today. They've been there for a few days. It's a great experience for young people and their parents to experience our own backyard, which is a world class heritage park. As well, in Fort Simpson, for a number of years, the Grade 8 students have organized and raised dollars to also experience the Nahanni National Park. They also take a trip to Nahanni National Park with some of their parents as tutors and so forth. They raft the South Nahanni River. So it's a great experience for our younger people and for their parents and I think it shows that we have to concentrate on looking at taking holidays in our own backyard rather than going south. It's a great experience for the younger people to learn about our country. Thank you very much. Mahsi.
---Applause