Thank you, Madam Chair. We talk about the diversity of the Northwest Territories and we all realize each and every one of our ridings is very diverse. I represent a riding that has Inuvialuit, Gwich’in; we have people from all over the Mackenzie Delta, so we know about the diversity of our riding.

I’m going to vote in favour of the motion, in favour of the 19 but, like Mr. Blake, that is in no way showing any disrespect to our Tlicho brothers, our brothers from Tu Nedhe. It’s no disrespect. We talk about the fact that there are three of us in here that are of Gwich’in descent. All three of us can’t speak our language. The reason our language is lacking is not because it’s not spoken in this Legislative Assembly. It starts well before that. We all would prefer to speak our own language and there are two of us in this Assembly that are Inuvialuit and we don’t speak our own language. I always say I can understand it a bit if they point while they’re talking to me. I can’t remember the last time Inuvialuit or Gwich’in was spoken in this Assembly.

So to say that our languages are dying because it’s not spoken in the Assembly, I don’t think that’s true. There’s a lot more to it than that. Obviously, all of us of Aboriginal descent in this Legislature would love to be able to stand, like some of our colleagues, and speak our mother tongue. I mean, that would be a great honour.

I just wanted to make the point that just because we’re voting to support the 19 Members is in no way showing any disrespect to any culture, language and people across the Northwest Territories. We are a very diverse territory. In my riding alone – and in every Member’s riding – we could count the number of people we have from all across, not only the country, but all over the world,

actually. I know Inuvik has a very diverse population with people from all over the world.

So I just wanted to make that point, Madam Chair. I just don’t want it to be thought that because I’m voting in favour of the 19 Members that I am disrespecting anyone, because I’m not. Thank you.