Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Member for Thebacha, the majority of my constituents are part of the NWT Metis Nation. As one of their representatives in this Assembly, I consider the advancement of their priorities as part of my priorities.

Mr. Speaker, on May 19th, 2021, the NWT Metis Nation, along with the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories, signed a self-government negotiation framework agreement to help advance land claim negotiations for the NWT Metis Nation.

This framework agreement will help guide negotiations in order to reach a final self-government agreement. The signing of this framework negotiation agreement is a major step in the advancement of this land claim and self-government process. This document also marks six years since the NWT Metis Nation agreement-in-principle was signed and 25 years since the initial NWT Metis Nation framework agreement was signed, which was when this process began.

Mr. Speaker, in talking with various Metis leaders during this term, I have heard that there is a high level of concern and frustration at the lack of progress with these negotiations. I am also told that the Government of the Northwest Territories negotiating team for the NWT Metis Nation claim has had a lot of turnover which seems to be preventing this claim from advancing in a timely matter. It seems that the Government of the Northwest Territories' negotiating team is very busy in dealing with many other files concurrently and are unable or perhaps unwilling to provide a dedicated team to this particular file.

Mr. Speaker, as with other Indigenous governments in land claims negotiations, the NWT Metis Nation wants a fair deal for their people. The NWT Metis Nation wants a final agreement that provides for land quantum and generalized interests that is comparable to other NWT claims. They also want to continue dealing in good faith and want to use the remaining time of the 19th Assembly to advance their claim as soon as possible before the end of this term. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to complete by statement. ---Unanimous consent granted Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with only 18 months left in this Assembly, I hope our government will prioritize this ongoing land claim and self-government agreement with the NWT Metis Nation.

Settling this claim will help provide stability and many positive lasting socio-economic benefits to the NWT. Finalizing this claim would also enable our government to advance one of this Assembly's priorities of settling and implementing all outstanding treaty land and self-government agreements. I will have questions for the Premier later today. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.