Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to recognize the courage and compassion of Pearl Norwegian, her sister Carol Norwegian, brother Joey Klein, niece Shanta Ansdell, and nephew Mark Ansdell for walking from Inuvik to Tsiigehtchic to raise funds for the Canadian Cancer Society.
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Earlier this month, Pearl and her family walked 125 kilometres between Inuvik and Tsiigehtchic. Pearl’s mother, Therese Remy Sawyer, also known as Terry Norwegian, died of cancer last year but not before she, herself, had completed the walk in 2006. Pictures of the walk show her smiling the whole time. She did it in memory of her husband, Tom Sawyer, who died of cancer in 2001.
One hundred and twenty-five kilometres is a long journey, but as Pearl told me, Mr. Speaker, the pain endured is nothing compared to those who suffered and are suffering from cancer. They camped along the way at the Gwich’in Territorial Park, Caribou Creek, and Wrangling River. They used the time together to bond, share memories, and recall the lessons and traditions their mother and grandmother passed on to them.
The family has vowed to walk between Inuvik and Tsiigehtchic again every five years, with the repeat beginning in 2016. The family not only wants to raise money for cancer research but increase awareness of cancer and the importance of early screening and checkups.
They want to continue their mother’s legacy and all they can do to prevent other families from experiencing the loss of a loved one to cancer. The walk ended in Tsiigehtchic at the graves of their mother, Terry; their sister, Esther; and stepfather, Tom.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all those who supported the walk and congratulations to Pearl, Carol, Joey, Shanta and Mark.
In closing, Mr. Speaker, Pearl Norwegian also served as my constituency assistant and I would like to thank her very much for her work and dedication through this term. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.