Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, International Women’s Day, on March 8th ,

is a global day of celebration concerning all women around the world that honour women’s advancement while reminding all of the continued vigilance and action required to ensure that women’s equality is gained and maintained in every aspect of society.

In the NWT, the Status of Women Council of the NWT celebrates International Women’s Day by hosting the Wise Women Awards and celebrating the winners with a Bread and Roses Luncheon. The awards are meant to honour women who are role models in their communities, who provide counselling and caregiver services to others. It recognizes the advocacy work, the support and education given to improve the Status of Women in the NWT.

The award is meant to recognize individual women and to encourage all women to continue their great work. This year’s theme is Leading Change. Mr. Speaker, it is my greatest pleasure to announce the recipients of the Wise Women Awards for 2009: for Beaufort-Delta, Ms. Mary Ann Ross…

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…for Sahtu, Cece McCauley…

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…for Deh Cho, Ruby Jumbo…

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…for South Slave, Chief Frieda Martselos…

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…for North Slave and Tlicho, Lynn Brooks.

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Mr. Speaker, we celebrated their achievement in the Great Hall earlier today and I would like to ask the House to join me in expressing our appreciation and congratulations to all of them for a lifetime of work for the betterment of families and northern communities. Thank you.