Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We in the Sahtu want to live up to our fullest potential. It’s in our nature. We are hard workers and we believe in our families and we support each other. We love the land and we respect it. We live by Yamoria’s laws and traditions that our elders have taught us. This does not mean that we do not want to change. Our elders tell us that we must adapt to changes if we are to survive as a nation of people. They say that we will be strong if we work together.
Our goals in the Sahtu are the same goals set out in the 17th Assembly. In the Sahtu our goals are in our hearts and our minds, but, of course, the Assembly writes them down and posts them on websites for all to see.
In the Northwest Territories, yesterday the draft Devolution Agreement was signed off. Now what? We have to set out on a course to bring education and awareness to people in the Northwest Territories. I believe our Premier has a plan and he has given 40 to 60 days to come back for us to have a discussion. The Premier has said we as MLAs are going to vote on it to see if we take it or we put it back on the table for the federal government or the next government to deal with.
At the same time, we’re embarking on a process through the Northwest Territories on electoral boundaries. The next step for us in the Assembly is the constitution of the North, how we’re going to work with the Aboriginal governments, territorial government and the federal government. How are we as Members in this House going to represent our people?
We come from the land in the Sahtu. We know our boundaries. The elders have told us long before the establishment of a territorial government. We’ve known since growing up how far we go to the east, how far we go to the west, how far we go to the south, and how far we go to the north. The elders have told us, when you go to this point in the land, that’s when you know you’re in another country. I ask the Members here to think about the Boundaries Commission, think about the culture, think about the First Nations.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
