Certainly the people I know that deal with the south describe themselves as Metis in the communities. I certainly appreciate the efforts by this government here to look at issues around the health benefits for them. We are certainly grateful for that because they are certainly not getting it from the federal government. Metis people have always said that they are a very distinct culture of people with their own language and culture. With the territorial government providing them with some funding to offset some of their political ambition, their economic ambition, even their cultural ambition, that I haven’t yet to date seen in the Aboriginal Affairs as to what steps can be taken to have the federal government acknowledge that there are 17 Metis governments in the Northwest Territories that need to be recognized. There are some settled in the land claims that distinctly says Metis along with Dene in settled land claims. I need to update some of the information myself. I am thinking about some of the ones that do not have opportunities to really see where they could benefit.

Again, I would ask a question and a comment from the Premier in terms of what things can this Assembly do to work with the Cabinet, with the message to the federal government that this is long overdue. It is no wonder that they call the Metis people the forgotten people. There are lots of things that could be said but hopefully I could see, an increase in the funding for this specific item on the budget here for the land owners, people who were born in the North who come from two different distinct cultures to call themselves the Metis. They fought long and hard. I think there should be some efforts to see if this could be an issue that could support them. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.