Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Along with my colleague and fellow Inuvialuqtun from Nunakput and another one from Inuvik Boot Lake, I’d like to also speak to the Inuvialuit Final Agreement today.
Years ago the Berger inquiry stalled the development or any talk of a pipeline, and I think this was a good thing. It gave the aboriginal governments an opportunity to take some time and get their claims settled in case development does happen. Eventually it will. I think that was a big move, and a lot of the claimant groups, in the meantime, have settled claims. They’ve put themselves into positions to benefit.
The Inuvialuit, after some growing pains and under the guidance of Nellie, have done just that. We’ve all benefited from the Inuvialuit Final Agreement. They’ve made some investments, and that comes back to us in the form of dividend payments.
The Inuvialuit still respect the old way of life. They still respect the culture. They try to promote the culture and living the old way of life but are also visionary enough to know that development could happen. So they, along with the Gwich’in and the Sahtu, have joined forces to form the Aboriginal Pipeline Group.
Now, that would put them in a position to become players and benefit from any building of a pipeline. Eventually our gas and oil will be needed, so in my opinion, a pipeline will go ahead. How soon, we’re not sure. But I like the fact that some of the claimant groups have decided this is going to happen, and they’re putting their people in a position to benefit from the resources from our land.
They still continue to practice the old way of life. They continue to promote it among their young people. So I think this is a great day for the Inuvialuit, and I think it’s a great day for claimant groups across the Northwest Territories. I look forward to — once all the claims are settled — celebrating these types of days for years to come.