Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I wish to speak about the passing of one of my constituents, Hank Mark Lafferty of Ndilo. He was commonly known as "Qui." [English translation not provided.] And grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Qui was raised in Ndilo and was the fifth in a family of eight growing up. He enjoyed playing hockey and loved going out in the land with his dad who taught him how to hunt, trap, run dogs in his youth. Throughout his life, Qui loved to play the guitar, sing, and even wrote his own songs. Qui also had a good sense of humour and loved to joke around and poke fun at people around him. Qui was a working man. He liked to keep busy, so it's no surprise that he had many a number of jobs in his life, including worked as a diamond driller, a wood cutter, a wood salesman, and a garbage truck driver, although his favourite work and pastime was being on a land with elders, family, and friends. He always tried to pass his knowledge on to a newer generation in order for them to carry traditions he learned in his life.
As a man who was raised with traditional values and beliefs, Qui was also very spiritual. He was a sun dancer and a pipe carrier. I'd like to share one short story from Qui's family that was told to me.
In his youth at age 13, upon becoming a hunter, his father told him that, to truly become a good hunter, he needed to go in the bush in overnight for at least one night by himself, so he did that. He took off in his snow mobile and was crossing a lake and the machine went through the ice. Qui was not deterred. He managed to pull himself and the snow mobile out of the water and follow through with his coming of age quest. He came home the next day unharmed.
Qui was a strong man, who will be dearly missed. He always protected the family he liked, the people he liked. I personally knew him for many years. Hank Mark Lafferty was a cousin of mine. His mother and my grandmother are first cousins. In addition, Qui is a first cousin to our honourable Speaker, Jackson Lafferty. I'd like to take this opportunity to extend my condolences to Qui Lafferty, friends, and the people at Ndilo. Marsi cho, Mr. Speaker.