Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I would like to speak about our future. Mr. Speaker, the elders have always told us and spoke very passionately about our future, and they continue to speak even more so in light of the changes of our lifestyles and our communities.

Mr. Speaker, we have heard, witnessed and supported our youth in many areas that contribute to the strengthening of our families, our communities and, more importantly, strengthening the youth spirit. Mr. Speaker, I want to acknowledge several youth in communities in the North; specifically, a young lady in Fort McPherson who is working on behalf of her people to continue their way of life: honouring and protecting the caribou in the North Slope area. Mr. Speaker, let us acknowledge a young singer from Norman Wells who wanted to have a chance

to make the North of 60 Idol and made it happen to come down to Yellowknife to sing.

Mr. Speaker, in addition, the first Sahtu Youth Strategy Conference was held in Fort Good Hope on August 16th to 20th of this year. We had 35 youth from the Sahtu region attend the three-day event. They gathered to discuss such issues as the Mackenzie gas opportunities, alcohol and drug issues for communities, family violence, and the impact of a Mackenzie gas pipeline. Mr. Speaker, these issues are also important to us as legislators, leaders, parents and grandparents, and even as elders. Mr. Speaker, there are lots of young people in the North who have taken the gift of life and are making the most of life, and that's their gift back to us in the Northwest Territories. For this I applaud them, Mr. Speaker.

In closing, I offer a statement from the Sahtu youth to the Sahtu leadership. They said we ask that you do everything in your power to take the alcohol and drugs out of our communities. I would like to thank the previous Minister of MACA and the present Minister of MACA for making this Sahtu youth conference a success, and I look forwarded to other successes in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

---Applause