Mr. Speaker, today I want to congratulate the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation on 40 years since signing this monumental land claim agreement. I want to thank the current chair of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, Duane Smith, and the board of directors on the work that they do to lead this organization.
I want to take this time to honour the many people who have worked together to make this agreement a reality 40 years ago today. Many of the signatories to the Inuvialuit Final Agreement have now passed on, but their families live on and thrive. The Inuvialuit people continue to be stewards of these lands passing on their culture and traditions to generations to come.
Mr. Speaker, the Committee of Original People's Entitlement Board, there was the late Peter Green, who was the president and from Paulatuk; the late Charles Hodak, he was the vicepresident and from Sachs Harbour; the late Sam Raddi, director from Inuvik; the late Billy Day, a director from Inuvik; the late Eddy Gruben, director from Tuktoyaktuk; the late Bertha Reuben, director from Paulatuk. We still have with us Annie C. Gordon, a director from Aklavik; and Elsie Klengenberg, a director from Ulukhaktok.
But we cannot forget those negotiators that negotiated this agreement and who we still have with us today. Nellie Cournoyea from Tuktoyaktuk; the late Andy Carpenter, Sachs Harbour; the late Robert Kuptana, Ulukhaktok; the late Nelson Green from Paulatuk; the late Mark Noksana from Tuktoyaktuk; Rene Arey of Aklavik, who is still with us today; the late Agnes Semmler of Inuvik; and their chief negotiator, Bob Delorey, who I remember always in that room with his pipe.
Mr. Speaker, I can say that my political career may have been instilled in me at a very young age, but I didn't know it back then. What I now realize is the meetings that I witnessed in this small room two doors down from my house when I was about six years old, with no table in that room, just chairs, where they sat around with federal negotiators like a Sharing Circle. This room included these past leaders where they were ensuring and securing the future of the Inuvialuit people. So once again, I congratulate them on their 40 years. Quyananni, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Inuvik Twin Lakes. Members' statements. Member from Nunakput.
