Mr. Speaker, the Government of the Northwest Territories strengthens awareness of our northern identity and uniqueness by promoting our many cultural backgrounds and revitalizing our languages. I am very pleased to advise this House that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment held the third annual Minister’s Culture and Heritage Circle to celebrate the tremendous contributions that people across this territory have made.
I am proud to honour the efforts of residents who work to strengthen the arts, cultures and heritage of the Northwest Territories. The Minister’s Culture and Heritage Circle was established in 2011 to celebrate Northerners who contribute to the preservation and promotion of culture and heritage in the Northwest Territories. Five recipients were selected from across the territory by an independent panel of judges. Our judges were William Greenland, Diane Boudreau and Mike
Vaydik, and I thank them for their service. Our recipients this year were David Gon, for the Individual category; Justin Memogana, for the Youth category; Emily Kudlak, for the Elders category; and Gwich’in Social and Cultural Institute for the Group category. I awarded the Yellowknife Choral Society the Minister’s Choice Award for sharing their passion for choral music in their community and territory. I am pleased to welcome them all here today.
I hope all Members of this Assembly will join me in honouring the Culture and Heritage Circle recipients and thank them for their work preserving, promoting and celebrating our unique cultures and heritage.
Mr. Speaker, languages and culture strengthen our greater NWT community, underpin many of the priorities of this Assembly and create an identity for all of us. They are a priority for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, and we will continue to work with our cultural communities to ensure our territory retains the vibrant and unique identities we have worked to preserve. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.