Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to say a few words on behalf of the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit support of the draft Devolution Final Agreement. The Gwich’in and Inuvialuit people have called the land in the Northwest Territories home. As a Gwich’in participant, I am proud to stand in this Legislature and say that the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit have a long history of living on the land. It is this history that proves that the Gwich’in and Inuvialuit have a rightful seat at the table when it comes time to decide how the Northwest Territories lands are used.
The Gwich’in did the right thing when they chose to support the negotiations back in September 2012. I would like to emphasize the importance of Gwich’in and Inuvialuit participation in the implementation of the Devolution Agreement. The Government of the Northwest Territories and the Government of Canada have to transfer all of the information linked to land management in the Northwest Territories and the GNWT has a responsibility, through the Intergovernmental Council created under the Devolution Agreement, to find effective ways to work with Aboriginal governments.
Devolution should not just bring more power to the Government of the Northwest Territories but it should empower the Aboriginal governments of the Northwest Territories.
In closing, I would like to commend our Premier, Mr. McLeod, and our team here for strengthening the working relationship with all Aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Blake. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
