Mr. Speaker, I’d like to recognize and congratulate the people of Deline for their success in developing an agreement that will not only serve the people of Deline but will also provide a model for other communities in the Northwest Territories and throughout Canada to consider.
This agreement is a made-in-the-Northwest Territories model for implementing the inherent right of self-government that follows the vision that the elders and leaders of Deline have held to for many years. This agreement could not have been possible without the hard work of many people, and I would like to take a few moments to recognize the Deline negotiating team.
Their team, led by chief negotiator Danny Gaudet, has worked tirelessly for years. What they have accomplished has never been done before. They had to break new ground and set a new trail over unexplored terrain. They did this with guidance from their elders and from the community.
Impressively, they worked with our government and Canada, always well prepared, explaining their community’s vision, and always willing to offer and consider new ideas. We can all learn from the extraordinary commitment of this community and the dedication of its negotiation team. They worked hard to represent not just their community’s interests at the negotiation table but also to reflect the strong traditions and values of the people of Deline.
This was a negotiation process notable for its atmosphere of respect and, again, is something we can all learn from. Based on this experience, we can be confident that the Deline Got’ine Government, when established, will be a solid partner as we work for the people of the Northwest Territories.
I would also like to recognize our officials who have worked on this agreement on behalf of the Government of the Northwest Territories. There is a long list of officials from virtually every GNWT department who at various times over the last 18 years have contributed to this agreement. Many have had the good fortune to work with and build strong relationships to the community of Deline. Most recently, our chief negotiator has been Fred Talen, and previous negotiators for the GNWT have been James Fulford, Doris Eggers and Sheila Bassi-Kellett.
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These negotiators were also supported by dedicated team members. Work on the ratification and implementation of this agreement has also been supported by the efforts of officials led most recently by Sue Bowie and her team. We must also extend our gratitude to these officials and to those from the Government of Canada who have also invested considerable time and effort to help fulfill the promise of self-government for the people of Deline.
Today is a historic day not just because so many have worked so hard for so long to see it happen, today is historic because passage of this bill will mark the ratification of the Deline Final Self-Government Agreement by the Government of the Northwest Territories, taking us a critical step closer to the establishment of the Deline Got’ine Government in 2016. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
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