Thank you, Madam Speaker. Madam Speaker, on June 21st, Canadians will celebrate National Aboriginal Day.
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This day is recognized across our country as an opportunity to acknowledge and pay tribute to aboriginal culture, language and heritage in Canada.
As Members are aware, in 2002 the Northwest Territories took the additional step of establishing National Aboriginal Day as a statutory holiday and we remain the only jurisdiction in this country to do so.
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Madam Speaker, we took this step to further recognize the culture, languages and heritage of the Dene, Inuvialuit and Metis people of the Northwest Territories and its role in the shaping of the Northwest Territories that we know today:
- • Our style of government is rooted in traditional systems of consensus: a foundation of trust and the
- aboriginal values of mutual respect and understanding. The shape of our legislative chamber pays tribute to the historic and time-honoured aboriginal leadership circle.
- • We have incorporated a Circle of Northern Leaders in our territory as a forum to identify common ground and to work together on issues of territorial concern and importance.
- • Our government recognizes not two, but 11 official languages.
- • We promote and support traditional lifestyles as a valuable component of our economy.
- • We are the only jurisdiction in Canada to provide Metis health benefits...
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...a program that ensures that Metis people in the Northwest Territories receive health benefits equivalent to those received by Dene and Inuvialuit peoples.
- • As we sit in session today, the Tlicho people are making final preparations to implement their combined land claims and self-government agreement -- the first of its kind in the Northwest Territories -- to come into effect on August 4th.
- • The land, resource and self-government agreements that we are negotiating in the Northwest Territories continue to set new standards and establish groundbreaking relationships between aboriginal people and their governments.
Madam Speaker, at the beginning of July, the NWT will host the annual general assembly of the Assembly of First Nations. One behalf of all of our residents, I am honoured that the AFN has chosen the NWT for this important event. It seems especially significant that the AFN assembly is happening shortly after we celebrate National Aboriginal Day.
Madam Speaker, aboriginal history, language, art, tradition and culture are an integral and valued part of our identity as Canada's northern people. This is what will be forefront in my mind as I, along with all residents of the Northwest Territories, celebrate National Aboriginal Day this year. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
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