Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the last couple of days I've gone back to my community in Tulita to be with my family. Mr. Speaker, in the last six months or so I've lost many members of my family: two of my aunties and three of my uncles. Mr. Speaker, when the family calls for you, you go as a member of the family, you go for your community. Especially when your mother calls for you, you go right away. It is our belief, Mr. Speaker, and our culture as aboriginal people that we go right away when you're called.

You know what, Mr. Speaker, my mother called for me when she was in Edmonton. She said come down, your uncle's not going to make it. Then she called back a little while later, she said no, maybe you should stay. Maybe you should stay here, you're working. When I heard the cry in my mother's voice, I said I'm going right now. My uncle gave me good values. He said if you're going to work, you work for yourself, don't depend on anybody. He extended the values of do it yourself and work with other people. But most important, Mr. Speaker, the value he told me is that when you do your job, you do it the best you can.

Mr. Speaker, when my uncle passed away, it was really hard. I struggle with that in my mind and my heart. When my other relatives passed away...(inaudible)...sometimes I question myself. Mr. Speaker, the heart won out of this matter when we're asked to go back home and be with our people. They remember that. As an MLA, you're there with the people during the hard times and the good times. They remember you for that. That's why they voted for you, to comfort them, have heart. This stuff will keep on going in business, but the people will be gone.

So our role as MLAs is difficult sometimes and we struggle with the heart and our mind, and the heart always wins and the people always win, and that's who I'm accountable to and I'll always be there for them. Mr. Speaker, that's what I want to say today. Thank you very much.

---Applause