Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to draw attention to an event of special cultural and social importance in Fort Smith, the Frank Gruben Pride Festival scheduled to take place June 14th to 16th, 2024. This free community festival serves as a beacon of inclusivity, solidarity, and remembrance. The Frank Gruben Pride Festival provides a safe haven for Members of the LGBTQIA2S+ community and their allies to honour the memory of Frank Gruben, a missing Indigenous person. In a world where safety and acceptance are not always guaranteed, events like this play a critical role in fostering a sense of belonging and dignity.
Mr. Speaker, what makes this festival truly special is its diversified approach to advocacy and celebration featuring local musicians, drag artists, and crafts people, including talents from Fort Smith and various communities across the Northwest Territories. The event serves as a platform for artistic expression and cultural exchange through the sale of their art, participants show solidarity and support for causes close to our hearts, including missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls, LGBTQIA2S+ rights and the memory of Frank Gruben.
Mr. Speaker, beyond its artistic and cultural offerings, the Frank Gruben Pride Festival is a vehicle for education and awareness. Through conversations and celebration, we aim to uplift Indigenous, Metis, Inuit, and the LGBTQIA2S+ voices, artists and businesses, enriching our collective understanding of diversity and inclusion.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my fellow Members to join me in supporting the Frank Gruben Pride Festival and its mission to create a more just and compassionate society. Let us stand together in celebrating the richness of our community and honouring the memory of those who have been lost. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member from Thebacha. Members' statements.
