Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to recognize a youth advocate from Nunakput.
Ms. Chukita Gruben is a 24-year-old Inuvialuk from Tuktoyaktuk who loves her culture, family, and the people who call this northern region home. Chukita comes from a very culturally oriented family who taught her the values of her traditional lifestyle, yet the importance of education that is needed in today's world. She recently completed a two-year term in December with the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation as a director, and during that time, she was working with the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk and for the Tuktoyaktuk District Education Authority. This young woman used these opportunities to grow and learn, utilizing her young voice and taking action.
Mr. Speaker, Chukita has helped contribute in tourism development projects with the Hamlet of Tuktoyaktuk and has done a lot of work around climate change by collaborating with scientists, researchers, politicians, and the media to showcase the impacts of climate change and how it is affecting their lifestyle, causing them to adapt. There is now a community-based monitoring program that was recently launched by the Tuktoyaktuk Community Corporation to help educate the people and be a part of the environmental concerns, adding into the Mangilaluk School curriculum and colliding traditional knowledge and western science data together.
Mr. Speaker, this young woman with her passion has had a lot of support and help to make these initiatives possible. Chukita has also volunteered a good amount of her time to visit schools and inspire youth to take advantage of opportunities that come up in this region. She has supported them by filling out paperwork and helping them to fundraise to travel for youth conferences in Canada.
Mr. Speaker, Chukita herself knows that these positive initiatives and knowing her cultural identity make an impact and are meaningful. She has travelled to many places in Canada and abroad to Alaska attending meetings. Mr. Speaker, in 2017, she was our youth representative for the Canada C3 expedition that went from coast to coast to coast for Canada's 150th birthday. She was on leg 12, and the ship left from her home town, Tuktoyaktuk, and ended in Prince Rupert, BC. Ms. Gruben has sailed for 20 days, stopping along communities to help build relationships, connect and educate Canada on key themes such as diversity, inclusion, reconciliation, youth engagement, and the environment.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank her for her remarkable contributions to our society. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker