Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wish to welcome all Members and the staff back from our summer break and our Thanksgiving weekend. I hope that everyone had an enjoyable and safe summer as well.
There are many Inuvialuit traditions that are very important in my daily life, Mr. Speaker, and how I serve my constituents.
One of those traditions is that I pay respect to my elders, which is all you guys. I respect you.
---Laughter
And I pay respect to my ancestors, the people that have shaped us into who we are today and who have passed away.
I always start my Member’s statements by paying respect to the people who have passed away, and the families and friends, since our last sitting in the Assembly. There have been a few deaths in the communities that I represent. Mr. Speaker, Joseph Robert Panaktalok, condolences go out to his father, Frank Panaktalok; and mother, Pearl Pokiak; and son Shayne; and to his aunts and uncles and family and friends. He’ll be sadly missed, Mr. Speaker.
Alexandria Anikina Payne passed away this summer. Condolences go out to her parents, Diana Anikina and Michael Payne; grandmothers Clara Bates, and my sister Judy Payne. Thoughts and prayers are with them.
Mr. Speaker, in Ulukhaktok we lost George Okheena. Condolences to his wife Mary T. Okheena and children Eddie, Colin, Peter Christine, Lucy, Ruby and Denise.
Mr. Speaker, our communities are very small and everyone knows everyone in Nunakput. We’re very close knit and the loss of one person deeply impacts us all.
Mr. Speaker, lastly, I wish to give condolences to all the people in the Northwest Territories who lost loved ones in the past few months. Our prayers and thoughts are with all the families. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Jacobson. The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
