Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today is the Inuvialuit tradition respecting our elders and people who have passed away. It’s very important to me. I always start off my Member’s statements with paying respect to the people who have passed away and their families and friends.
Since the last sitting of the Assembly there have been many deaths in our region. In the community of Tuktoyaktuk we lost elder Suzie Kikoak. Condolences to the family, her children: Lena, Caroline, Brenda, Steven and Violet.
December 4
th
we lost Daniel Reid. Condolences go
to his wife, Maryanne, and his stepchildren, Priscilla and Vaughan.
On January 25
th
we lost Ernest Cockney Elias.
Condolences go to his family and his wife, Georgina Cockney, and children, Shirley Steenburg, Steven Cockney, Joanne Cockney, and Brenda Wolki.
In the community of Ulukhaktok, on October 20, 2010, Wilma Memogana, daughter to Nora Memogana. Condolences to the Memogana family. Her common-law was Ronald Binder. Her children are Kevin, Justin and Brianne Memogana.
On December 1, 2010, we lost Nora Memogana. Condolences go to the Memogana family. Wife of the late Jimmy Memogana, children, Emma, Jean, Helen, Beverly, Barb, Roger, Mary, Roberta, Leslie and Kevin.
We are close-knit communities in the communities of Nunakput. All share the loss of our people together.
Lastly, I wish all my condolences to all the people who have lost loved ones in the Northwest Territories in the past few months. Prayers and thoughts are with their families.