Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as you have heard from my honourable colleagues, today is International Women's Day. Women celebrate this day every year, and encourage everyone around the world to stand up for the equality and freedom for women, as well as their contribution to society.

As I decided on how I was going to recognize this day, I reached out to the regional women’s leadership. We spoke about politics, leadership, education, and employment in regard to the equal opportunities for women. As we spoke, I explained that I was looking to recognize at least one woman today.

What I found to be very interesting is these women wanted me to celebrate other women in the region, including stay-at-home mothers, teachers, and nurses. You name a profession; that person was referred to me. They said it isn't always about the person in the forefront who makes the biggest change, or shows the biggest leadership. It could be someone like Rosa Parks, who refused to surrender her bus seat to a white passenger, spurring the Montgomery Bus Boycott and other efforts to end segregation. As they said to me, “You never know where true leadership will be found.” With this in mind, I found it very difficult to recognize just one woman, so I asked them for their help. We were able to narrow it down and, finally, recognize one individual: Gladys Norwegian.

Mr. Speaker, typically, the road to be a First Nations chief carries a very small percentage of females willing enough to stand forward for the challenge. Miss Gladys Norwegian, who now calls Jean Marie River home, is one of the very few female chiefs.

After 33 years as an educator, Gladys returned to her community and became their chief. I asked about her position. She replied, "It is a very complex position on many fronts." One main area is re-growing her community to believe in their own language and culture, in doing so, threading their beliefs, values, principles and carrying their ancestors' words forward, not an easy task in the dominant Western society. To be an effective chief today is to be consistently building and strengthening the world views and perspective of the First Nation.

This, coupled with society's political issue of negotiating processes and addressing other political matters facing them, such as health, climate change, social wellness, education, and technology, requires local, regional, and global knowledge. Gladys has proven to put in every effort to make her position work best for her community. Under her leadership, Jean Marie River has developed a five-year strategic plan and economic development strategy plan. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

---Unanimous consent granted