Debates of October 17, 2006 (day 9)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Her Excellency the Right Honourable Michaëlle Jean, Governor General of Canada, presented 12 aboriginal youth from across Canada with the National Aboriginal Role Model Award during a ceremony at Rideau Hall yesterday.

Each year, the National Aboriginal Role Model Program celebrates the accomplishment of 12 aboriginal role models aged 13 to 30 from across Canada, the First Nations communities, Inuit and Metis communities. The role models are nominated by their parents and also selected for their accomplishment under leadership skills initiative through their communities. Through the year, the role models visit First Nations, Inuit, and Metis communities and share their stories with other aboriginal youth and strive to meet their goals.

Mr. Speaker, it is with great pleasure to recognize Alisa Blake who is 28 years old from our home community of Fort McPherson in the Northwest Territories. Alisa’s mixed ancestry of Gwich’in, Inuvialuit, Metis, she is inspired by her son, Justin. Alisa is currently enrolled in a professional pilot program outside of Red Deer, Alberta, and plans to return to Fort McPherson to become a pilot with a local airline industry. Alisa has served on the hamlet council, the youth council, involved with the Metis local and is employed as a program advisor for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation out of the Inuvik office and worked as a radio operator/communicator with the Fort McPherson Airport. At this time, I would like to congratulate Alisa on behalf of the people of the Mackenzie Delta and her home community of Fort McPherson and for the national achievement that she has made us all proud of. Mahsi cho.

---Applause