Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to talk about Indigenous Guardian Programs, an innovative model for strengthening communities and caring for the land and water we all depend upon. Indigenous guardians are the "eyes and ears" on the ground for Indigenous communities and effective partners with public governments. Working with the youth and with advice and direction from the elders, the guardians monitor wildlife, collect wildlife, water, sediment and soil samples to measure against baseline data while managing their territories and sacred places. They engage with industry and government partners and they provide training for youth, giving Aboriginal Youth an opportunity to re-connect with their elders and land that creates a sense of purpose and opportunity.

Mr. Speaker, we already see the positive results in the NWT. New research conducted by Social Ventures Australia, commissioned by the Dehcho First Nations and Lutselk'e Dene First Nations, shows that guardian programs in the Lutselk'e Dene First Nation and Dehcho First Nations generate major social and economic benefits:

● They improve public health, reduce dependency, strengthen environmental management capacity and for every one dollar invested, the programs save two and a half dollars in social spending.

● They also expand local economies. In Lutselk'e, the Ni'Hat'ni Dene Guardian Program is already supporting and managing tourism activity around Thaidene Nene. This has a big impact in remote communities in which most employment rates in small communities is below 50 per cent.

Mr. Speaker, when local economies and communities thrive the entire NWT benefits. Indeed, guardian programs can help the GNWT meet many of its mandates, from generating good-paying jobs to monitoring the Mackenzie watershed to implementing its sustainable economy plan and reaching at-risk Aboriginal youth.

Mr. Speaker, Social Ventures Australia did similar research for the Australian Governments PMOs on their National Aboriginal Stewardship Program. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member's statement today.

---Unanimous consent granted.