Thank you, Madam Chair. Just a few comments. I’m honoured to be a part of this process. The community has worked very hard over the years. I would like to congratulate the community, the negotiators and leadership as you have negotiated from a common goal and as you begin down a new path of self-sufficiency.

Many times over the years I’ve been to a number of meetings and that’s what our people want is to be self-sufficient, and today you begin down that path. Also, taking over the programs in your community and making changes where you see fit. Many times our programs are not structured around what our community needs, but through this process you’ll have that power to change what will work for your community. Also, building the capacity and training your next generation to fill the positions in your new government.

In my prior role, as I mentioned, I sat on a self-government table for four years, and during that time through our Gwich’in Tribal Government, our negotiators changed four times through those four years. On the federal government side it changed three times. The same with the GNWT. As I look through your information that was provided to us, I see that the negotiator for the Deline self-government was there for 17 years.

---Applause

Mr. Gaudet. That shows commitment for the people in the community. I would just like to thank him for that. You have my full support.