Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also want to have some congratulatory words to the people in Deline.

Thomas Edison once observed that the reason most folks don’t recognize opportunity when it comes along is because it’s often dressed in coveralls and looks like work. Often opportunity involves a great deal of work and a willingness to take a chance on something, the outcome of which may be uncertain. Eventually you reach a point when you must either accept an opportunity with all its unknowns or else turn your back on it. No one can tell you when you have reached that point. You will know when it’s time to make your move. You have to have the courage to take a chance.

Deline has taken the chance. It’s taken a chance to become a government on its own, as Mr. Premier said. A stand-alone, first time ever in Canada. The birthplace of not only ice hockey but the birthplace of self-government in Canada belongs to Deline.

---Applause

That’s what the North is so good about. People in the North, no matter who we are, sometimes we get a little bit controlling and want our own. But when we really think about it, we’re very unique in this territory. Even in this Assembly sometimes we don’t agree, but we somehow come out together. That’s the way it is. We don’t know what’s going to happen.

As the elders said, tomorrow, we don’t know. We’re not the boss. We know that when we got back to our people and our communities, there are some really good people from all the North not sitting with us in our communities: family members, cousins, grandmas, whatever. Only God knows. You listen to the elders and you know they will help you along the trail.

I have to say some words on behalf of the Deline people, and I want to say even Chief Sitting Bull said, “Let’s put our minds and our hearts together so that we know what kind of future we can make for our children.” I’m very proud to know that the young Pages are here to witness their community becoming their own government. Maybe one day those two young girls, Hannah Beyonnie and Faith Gaudet, will be in the government of Deline along with lots of young leaders up here. That is my only prayer.

Nineteen years ago the Deline First Nation and Deline Land Corporation began negotiating this self-government agreement. The community was guided by a desire to ensure their language, culture and way of life would stay strong into the future. They were guided by the desire to do away with three separate organizations that kept the people apart, and create one government for the community that would help them work together.

One of the Dene laws is sharing. We must all share respectfully with each other if we are to survive and thrive. That was also a guiding principle for this community while negotiating and it’s reflected in the agreement, which includes a welcome place for elected public representatives in the government. For Deline, self-government does not mean they will go off into their own corner. It means that they will take their place as a self-governing partner of the GNWT and Canada to govern in ways that betters the lives of Deline Got’ine. They are strong in their purpose that this agreement will make sure that their children for generations to come will have the opportunity to stay strong in their Dene identity as a basis for overcoming the challenges, staying in school, contributing to the well-being of the community and territory and succeeding where their hopes and dreams take them.

With the passage of this bill, we are one step closer to a stronger territory, strong land claim and self-government, making the lives of all our NWT citizens better, because strength creates opportunity.

Deline was guided by a team of elders for the entire 19-year process, who are committed to continue their involvement as the community prepares to set up the Deline Got’ine Government. Those elders are the late Paul Baton, Alfred Taniton and Leon Modeste. These men attended virtually every single negotiation session and meeting of this process to guide the negotiating team – beautiful – and continued to bring all parties back to the focus on their vision of one strong government in Deline in accordance with the vision of the prophet ?ehtseo Ayha.

Andrew John Kenny, Frederick Kenny, Dolphus Baton, Morris Neyelle and Charlie Neyelle also supported the negotiating team, staying involved as advisors along with the elders. They were always on hand in the community to give advice to the negotiating team and to explain the agreement and issues to the people.

Over the years strong leaders in Deline made sure their community was informed and involved in this process and were always there with support for the negotiating team. Presidents of the Land Corporation: Peter Menacho, Leroy Andre, Raymond Taniton, the late John Tetso, John Tutcho, Gina Dolphus, and Ekwatide Raymond Tutcho and Ekwatide Leonard Kenny.

Throughout the negotiating process many community members worked on the agreement. Sorry, Mr. Speaker, a good friend of mine. Throughout the negotiating process many community members worked on the agreement in various ways, and as a result the negotiating team itself helped to build capacity in the community and ensure that residents were informed. These included Shaun Doherty, Jane Modeste, Fibbie Tatti, Stephanie Carter, Walter Bayha, Michael Neyelle, Ruby Takazo, Dolphus Tutcho, Nicole Tutcho, Reanna Taniton and Clarence Tutcho.

The negotiating team had been led for the past 19 years by Danny Gaudet, who was asked by the elders to take on the role of chief negotiator, which he expected would only take two years. I know you’ll agree with me when I say not only the community but all of us are glad that he stuck it out for 17 years longer than he expected. Thank you, Danny. That is the kind of commitment needed to get things done and to keep communities moving forward. In his role he was supported by staff in the community and by technical staff. These individuals at different times included Stephen Mills, the late John Bailey, Alex Ker, Tony Maxwell, Max Faille, Mark Siegel, Shannon Ward, David Boote and Jessica Iveson. In the community, Paulina Roche, Phebie Kenny, Kristina Gaudet, Christine Allen, Diane Andre and Kirk Dolphus worked as members of the community’s transition team.

Now, Mr. Speaker, sometimes these things are unexpected, you know, when we have… I just want to say the late John Tetso and I had some pretty good times when we were young leaders, and I didn’t know this was going to happen. Thank you, colleagues.

The community transition team was responsible for thinking through how they will transition their organizations to one Deline Got’ine Government. George Cleary, Mary Kodakin, Ron Cleary and Anne Bayha also contributed greatly by being a presence here in Yellowknife to support the negotiations and provide a link with the large number of Deline beneficiaries who live in this wonderful city called Yellowknife.

Throughout the negotiations, Danny had a core team who supported him. For the first seven years, the late Gary Juniper and also the late Geoffrey Grenville Wood worked tirelessly in that role. For the past 12 years, Patricia Modeste, Brian Crane of Gowlings, Stephanie Irlbacher-Fox, together with the community-based advisors worked with Danny to complete the agreement.

During the ratification stage, Roxane Poulin and her team at Tait Communications worked around the clock to develop an award-winning information strategy that ensured every Deline beneficiary could make an informed decision when voting on this agreement. I would like to congratulate all these individuals who have worked so hard on this agreement on behalf of the community of Deline.

Mr. Speaker, in closing, this agreement took 19 years. This is the birth of 19 years. It’s like a mother giving birth after nine months. We take our time, we go a little slow with the creation, the birth, your prophet, and the people of Deline, good government, all the Members, the team up there, you are witnessing history. God bless you all. God bless the government. Stay strong. Continue working with your elders and your prophet. Young people, stay in school. Stay off alcohol and drugs and we’ll have a really, really strong government, I’ll tell you that. The future is yours. Take the opportunity and run with it. Mr. Speaker, thank you so much.

---Applause

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Before we move on, I’d like to welcome back into the House, Mr. Jim Antoine.

---Applause

To the motion.

Question has been called. The honourable Premier asked for a recorded vote. All those in favour, please rise.

All those opposed, please rise. All those abstaining, please rise. In favour, 16; opposed, zero; abstentions, zero. The motion is carried.

---Carried

---Applause

Bill 46 has had third reading. Mr. Clerk, orders of the day.

Thank you, Mr. Clerk. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until Thursday, March 5th, at 1:30 p.m.

---ADJOURNMENT

The House adjourned at 5:09 p.m.