Mr. Speaker, can you feel it? Can you hear it? Mr. Speaker, the Arctic Winter Games are fast approaching, and the opening ceremony of the 2018 South Slave Games is taking place this Sunday, March 18, in Hay River. Hay River is the traditional territory of the K'atlodeeche First Nations, along with the West Point First Nation and the Metis Nation.

While part of the games will also be held in Fort Smith, the Dene games will take place on the Hay River Reserve. I look forward to the cultural events, such as stick pull, snow snake, hand games, and drum dances.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to acknowledge some of the athletes and coaches from the Deh Cho riding:

• Beth Hudson from Fort Providence is Team NWT's coach for table tennis;

• Katherine Lenoire from Enterprise is a curler on the junior team; and finally

• Shannon Bonnetrouge from Fort Providence is the territorial champion and will be competing as a junior table tennis athlete.

I would also like to recognize the many people who made this possible in the towns of Hay River and Fort Smith, the parents and the cheerleaders who will be cheering on their favourite team and players. Mr. Speaker, I am proud that the Deh Cho will be represented at the Arctic Winter Games, and we will be rooting for team NWT. Best of luck to our athletes. They are our future Olympians in the making. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.