Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A terrible tragedy affected Tulita this past summer. As many may be aware, this past June a young woman named Nicole Horassi went missing. Nicole’s remains were discovered by a search and rescue volunteer the following month. On Friday, July 13th, Nicole’s body was found floating in the Mackenzie River.
Nicole’s death was heartbreaking for everyone that knew her. Nicole was a beautiful, bright young woman that died far too young. Nicole’s passing showed us that tragedy can, and does, strike at any moment. In many instances it happens suddenly, without any warning.
I’m extremely proud of the Tulita response to the tragedy. The search and rescue team was formed entirely of volunteers from the community and from the other Sahtu communities. People donated their time, money and labour to help search efforts. Volunteers searched the Mackenzie and Great Bear rivers and scoured the land. Tulita residents opened up their homes to outsiders that came there to help them. Oil companies donated to help with the gas. Private and other organizations helped with the money and the food, and almost every community in the North came with donations and support. It was unbelievable the support we received.
People throughout the Sahtu arrived in Tulita to help with the search efforts. We even had volunteers from Ontario and as far away as America. These volunteers did a wonderful job and I would like to take the opportunity to thank them. Thank you for your hard work and dedication. Thank you for bringing Nicole back to her family. Thank you to the Yellowknife family and the mining company that loaned us these couples from America.
The volunteer search and rescue mission did perform well; however, we cannot wait until another crisis occurs before acting. We must remain vigilant and prepared. The only way to ensure the Sahtu responds swiftly and correctly to future emergencies is to have some funding available to us. The goal is to keep our communities protected and, most of all, safe.
The people and families in Tulita thank the people in the Northwest Territories from the bottom of their hearts. They couldn’t believe the support that was out there. To everybody in the Northwest Territories, on behalf of Tulita, thank you very much.
