Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This Sunday, March 8, 2020, is International Women's Day, and the theme this year is Because of You, which pays tribute to the diverse and inspirational gender equality change-makers we know in our own lives.
Mr. Speaker, I'd like to talk about the most inspirational woman in my life, my Granny Agnes Semmler. She was a vibrant and inspiring person; one could know this from the moment she began to talk. She was a strong advocate for women and children, as well as for the people for the Delta. She was a founding member of COPE, the Committee for Original Peoples Entitlement, a negotiator for the Inuvialuit final agreement, and a strong advocate of Indigenous rights. She served on and helped establish many boards in the community of Inuvik. In 1975, she became the first northern Indigenous woman to be appointed Justice of the Peace. In 1984, she was the first Indigenous female Deputy Commissioner of the NWT.
Mr. Speaker, although all these are remarkable, I want to tell you why she inspired me. She raised me and loved me unconditionally and always made time for me. She taught me things that some may think are not that important, but were important to me as a child, like jigging in our kitchen, which was gave me pride in my culture when I danced at many events. She instilled to me how important education was and never let me forget, as she would even have my purposely forgotten homework flown out to out camp by one of our local bush pilots during ratting season.
She taught me to hunt and skills to survive on the land. She was the example of person who truly lived her life in both worlds. I can remember watching her jump out of the boat after being on the land for a few weeks, putting the guns and our furs away and all the gear, and then putting on her famous blue suit and heading to court as the JP or one of her many meetings of the boards she belonged to.
She taught me to respect the land, and that the land was important for our future as Indigenous people. Without the land, we have no future. She taught me to respect everyone, and never forget where you came from. She taught me to stand up to what you believe, even if it takes time. She taught me resilience and to listen, and I listened to her life story from being born in the bush to attending residential school, and the many things she endured and overcome throughout her life. Because of you, I will strive to be the role model that you were to me. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.