Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also would like to recognize the former Premier Bob McLeod and his wife Melody McLeod, also Brenda Gauthier and everybody else in the gallery.
Mr. Speaker, in recent years both the courts and political leaders have recognized the need for reconciliation between Indigenous people and the Crown. Generally in the First Nations Treaty 8s and Treaty 11s, it says that their aboriginal rights and titles were not affected by making those treaties. Unfinished treaty business has yet remained a cloud over much of our territory while the treaty First Nations are deprived of the benefits and recognition they deserve.
Mr. Speaker, is the Premier prepared to commit the resources and mandate necessary to complete the outstanding business with our treaty partners in the Deh Cho, Akaitcho, and Indigenous governments? Mahsi.
Thank you, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh. Honourable Premier.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The finalization of selfgovernment agreements and land claim agreements are a trilateral agreement. It's done with the federal government, the Government of the Northwest Territories, and the Indigenous governments. We are dedicated, though, Mr. Speaker, to doing our best to make sure that the agreements are finalized; however, I'm respectful of the Indigenous governments, and the work shall be done on time on their time as well as so that everyone feels that they got a fair shake of it.
So it's not about rushing the agreements. It's about doing them right. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you Mr. Premier I mean Madam Premier. Does the Premier recognize the treaties as the reconciliation of preexisting sovereignty of Indigenous people on this territory and the Crown. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Absolutely, within the United Nations Declaration of Indigenous People, which is a priority of this government, there is a recognition of Modern Treaties and selfgovernment agreements, and so I will continue to uphold that agreement. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Does the Premier agree that our laws and policies need to respect the inherent sovereignty of the treaty First Nations and to reconcile our authority with that of First Nations and Indigenous governments. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We wouldn't call them selfgovernment agreements if we didn't believe in the concept of them being able to selfgovern. Within all selfgovernment agreements, there is clauses within each chapter that identify the paramountcy of laws. And many of those chapters, Mr. Speaker, the Indigenous government has paramountcy over the territorial government. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Honourable Premier. Final supplementary, Member for Tu NedheWiilideh.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and thank you Premier. Does the Premier support the initiative to periodically review and update all treaties and modern land claim agreements in this ongoing spirit of sharing, reconciliation, and mutual respect. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker, and thank you Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Actually I do believe that within the agreements, there is a clause that states that they can be reviewed and updated as necessary. There is a commitment to that. Again, Mr. Speaker, though, in recognizing that I am willing to work with Indigenous governments, but really, the priority, Mr. Speaker, is to try to get all Indigenous governments into a place where they have land claims that are settled and selfagreement selfgoverning agreements that are settled so that they do take their rightful place at the table. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Madam Premier. Oral questions. Member for Frame Lake.
