Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Elder statesman, yeah, I've been here too long. No, Mr. Speaker, as we end the 19th Assembly, I just want to take a moment to reflect on my time serving in the House. At the time, I've been an MLA for Nunakput for three Assemblies. You know, Mr. Speaker, I was first elected in the 16th Assembly in 2007. The Members I was elected alongside with, you know, I just want to honour them today because I've been through a lot before prior to you guys. You know, Michael McLeod, Wendy Bisaro, Glen Abernathy, Paul Delorey, my favorite Speaker and the guy who took me under his wing, just like I took you under my wing, Paul took me under his wing because and Paul told me, he says, you know, Jackie, he says I'm doing this because of your uncle Vince Steen, because when he was first elected, Paul, my uncle Vince took him under his wing and took care of him. So when Paul took me under his wing, he took me to the board of management. So it was it's a good it was a really good friendship, and he was my he was my mentor, and I really respect Paul Delorey for what he's instilled in me in honour and being steadfast in your beliefs.
My co at the time when I was is Jane Groenewegen, Floyd Roland, Robert McLeod, Dave Ramsay, David Krutko. David Krutko was a battlelacks, just like you, Mr. Speaker. He was one of my good friends. Outspoken and always wanted right to do right for the people that we represented. And he always said that to us, steadily reminding us. And my good friend Jackson Lafferty. And Kevin Menioche, Sandy Lee. I've never seen Sandy in a long time. I'm going to have to reach out to her. But Norman Yakeleya, Michael Miltenberger, Tom Beaulieu, Bob Bromley, Robert Hawkins, and my favorite Premier Bob McLeod.
Mr. Speaker, I want to thank all Members of the 16th Legislative Assembly for putting up with me during my first term at the office here. All jokes aside, though, I learned a lot during my first term, especially my fellow colleagues I have a great deal of gratitude and respect for, all from the Members of that Assembly. Moreover, Mr. Speaker, there's an Assembly of Regular Members that was a part of the following committees I sat on. You know, board of management, priorities and planning, government operations, and deputy chair of economic development and infrastructure and at that time, in the 16th, Mr. Speaker, on the 16th I was very happy to see several new developments in my riding of Nunakput. In those days it was it's a while ago, but I did a lot for my people. And us as a whole did. This includes the new RCMP detachment but I won't go without saying Calvin Pokiak, the MLA prior to me coming in, he had a big part to do with that too. And I want to thank Calvin for his service. You know, developments in Nunakput communities, the Sachs Harbour detachment in 2008. That year we built Paulatuk in 2010, we had a youth centre built. Tuk hosted, you know, our first hockey clinic in 2011. Ulukhaktok, a new community centre for the community included a youth centre in March 2011. Terminal buildings were replaced in all of Sachs Harbour, David Nasogaluak Jr. Airport in Paulatuk, and then Tuktoyaktuk, the James Gruben Airport, in 2011 as well.
In addition, Mr. Speaker, over the course of the 16th Assembly, I did 224 Members statements. Of those statements and topics, I spoke about still what I'm talking about today housing shortages, housing issues such as mold, safety levels, housing maintenance and repairs, elder care such as proper facilities in our communities, proper medical service, longterm care, medical travel, mental health, youth sports, doctor shortages including lack of housing for nurses, the shortages of lack of housing and income support our schools I'm thankful for the Assembly over the last few years for getting my Mangilaluk School. Thank you, Madam Premier, and Cabinet, for that. For Mangilaluk School, 2007's the first time I brought that up. And how that came up is I went to the school one day. They have 38 staff and they only had one bathroom. But we're going to have quite a few bathrooms so it's going to be good, in the new school, when it's done. Yeah, so the support for schools such as lack of counsellors, you know, mental health supports for our youth, high school dropout rates, the addictions and substance abuse, the economy such as high cost of food, fuel, power, lack of employment in our communities. We're resource rich and cash poor in our riding for oil and gas. And I wish the moratorium would be lifted.
But, you know, one thing we did get going in that Assembly was the highway, InuvikTuk Highway. I remember when I was the Speaker, I started when I was in '07, we started. Myself, Mervin Gruben, Russell Newmore, Kurt Wainman, and we lobbied hard, and I like, I think I at the Explorer Hotel for one month straight one time, 30 days at least for that road, getting stuff ready to get it done. And that Assembly got it through for me. And they were and one thing I'll always remember, when they were reading it in to the House at the time when I was a Speaker I was a Speaker that time I was giving those guys tea and cookies that night. I'll always remember that. And I always joke about that.
But, you know, Mr. Speaker, I was elected in the 17th Assembly in 2011 in that term, as Speaker of the House. That was one of my proudest moments in my life because I was the first Inuvialuit Speaker. And I was mentored by the to me, the best Speaker the NWT Assembly ever had was Paul Delorey. And you too. But you're after me. All joking aside, Mr. Speaker, you know it was special to speak have be the first Inuvialuit Speaker. I served as Speaker of the House of that Assembly. And the pleasure of working with Mike Nadlii, Wendy Bisaro, Glen Abernathy, Robert Bouchard, Jane Groenewegen, my deputy chair or my deputy Speaker at the time, Alfred Moses who I missed and he was part of the Fab Five that time when he came in. I remember that. That was a good time we had with Alfred. Robert McLeod, David Ramsey, yourself, Mr. Speaker, Jackson Lafferty, Kevin Menioche, Darryl Dolynny, Norman Yakeleya, Tom Beaulieu, Bob Bromley, Robert Hawkins, and my favorite Premier Bob McLeod. So where am I four boy, got long ways to go yet, Mr. Speaker.
Anyways, Mr. Speaker, because I'm telling a story. In the 17th Assembly, among my accomplishments I presided over as a Speaker, a role in the chair of the board of management Assembly. I also at the 17th Assembly, the GNWT GNWT of the day began construction of the InuvikTuk Highway Project, and it was a project that was talked about for and come, really contemplated for decades. And it was done. You know, every time I drive on that, it's surreal because the efforts and that we put into that road prior to me, it was my uncle Vince Steen that tried so hard for the road and, and that's one of the biggest reasons I'm here today is my uncle Vince Steen that that encouraged me. At that time, I was the mayor of Tuk. Encouraged me to run and put my name forward in '07. And that's how I became into the as an MLA. You know, I'm very proud of that project. And that was talked about. And as MLA for Nunakput, you know, again, with that project, was we were like the A Team, myself and Mervin Gruben and Russell and Kurt to get that done. There was so much work that went into that project.
Mr. Speaker, on the Assembly once again, I was very happy to see developments occur in my riding. Environmental Remediation Project done in Tuk in November 2012. Environmental remediation in Sachs Harbour, same time, to improve safety and sustainability, also in March in 2013 the project funded to mitigate homelessness that provided support and help soup kitchens in the communities I represent, food banks, programs, shelters, food rescue. On May 2013, trapping workshop was held in Ulukhaktok and helped trappers succeed in the fur market and be up to date regulations and standards with technology. And finally, in Ulukhaktok in 2015, the Ulukhaktok was three schools awarded $50,000 pilot project for resiliency program, resiliency and program for students.
Furthermore, Mr. Speaker, after the short hiatus from the House that time, I was elected once again in the 19th Assembly and now, what do you know, these last four years our territory's been through quite a lot. We've had global pandemics, record breaking fire season, several floods, locally for two years now resupply barges. I'm really happy we got a resupply into the communities for this year. I thank the Minister for that, Minister Archie. And I don't have to worry about the communities not having any food. And delivering the materials up the Mackenzie River. So that's a whole different thing now. We have to really look at that because there's almost no river water running. Nunakput communities are normally does every year that the reasons why the barge could not make it in deliveries due to impacts of climate change, Mr. Speaker. Various natural disasters I've mentioned, which several disrupted service in several communities. In addition, Mr. Speaker, throughout the 19th Assembly, as a Regular Member, I was a part of the following committee, board of management thanks to you, accountability and oversight, rules and procedures. I was the chair, and I want to thank my colleagues on Mr. O'Reilly and Mr. Simpson Sr.. thank you, guys, and Rylund, for all your support. The committee if I missed anyone, I'm sorry. The rules and procedures chair during some Assemblies as well as chair of economic development and environment. And I really want to thank my cochair Mr. Ron Bonnetrouge for stepping in for a lot this year because we've been through a lot and travel's hard to get sometime, and a lot of family personal family matters I was dealing with. And also Mr. Kevin O'Reilly. Thank you, Kevin, for stepping in and helping me and getting my briefing notes when I called you. Thank you. But, you know, and additionally throughout the 19th, I did 132 Member's statements. This covered such topics as housing again, cancer screening, public housing, rental arrears, marine transportation, power rates, COVID plans in communities, power corporation, isolation, the community harvesting assistance programs, as well as evictions to use the power limiters, antibullying, income support claw backs, mental health, dental, medical travel escorts, barge schedule, youth, youth sports, offshore drilling, oil and gas, I hope that comes back. We're resource rich and cash poor. Elder care such as longterm care. And that's one thing this this Assembly coming forward, we should be looking at smaller health care facilities in the communities instead of sending them to central locations.
Mr. Speaker, and the safety issues of our communities, such as Frank Gruben's been missing. And the Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women and Girls. You know, it was an honour for me to be here when we and it was Ms. Semmler and yourself to be a part of the unveiling of the statue. And that, it hit me hard because I have an auntie that went down that and was affected by that. And, you know, when something like that happened, it just brought up a lot of emotion and a lot of memories. And I currently want to thank my colleagues of 19th Assembly for both current and former ones since the by by the byelections, you know, with the Members, you know, again, my Kevin, Katrina, R.J., Rocky, Diane, Lesa, Caitlin, Fredrick, Jackson, and then we got Jane. I'm really blessed to have Jane here. She's been a steadfast supporter of small communities and working with us. And, you know and working for the people. And she she's just awesome. I'm really blessed. Shane Thompson, myself, Caroline Caroline Cochrane, thank you for your service. Paulie Chinna, thank you. Freida Freida's, yeah, steadfast and probably walking Rambo. You know, and then my friend my good friend, still is a good friend, no matter, is Steve Norn. And then brought us Richard. And Richard, you've been steadfast in your commitment to your people that I thank you for that. Richard Edjericon. Julie, thank you. You're the Minister that answered my calls the most when I had health care issues, everything. I want to thank you because you're going to get the Nunakput award for answering your phone from me. But I am thankful. And then Katrina too, like thank you for all what you do in supporting of our small communities. You've got a good heart and you just want to do what's best. And you keep up the good work.
Mr. Speaker, throughout my time in office, I've always sought compassion, honest to speak the power on behalf of my constituents. I want to thank the residents. I know it's been a great honour for me and privilege to serve as MLA at the Legislative Assembly. I want to thank the people of Nunakput that put faith in me in choosing me to be their voice. Don't worry, I'm not done yet, got quite a bit here.
You know, the things you know, the little things are going to I'm going to miss, you know, are like being here as an MLA from the communities, we're always alone. We work here from eight in the morning. We go home last night at, what, 9:45. And it's just like going to ourself. You're always alone. You never have family. That's probably the toughest thing I've done through the 12 years, Mr. Speaker, of being an MLA is the part of being alone. You know, I don't drink. I don't smoke. I don't do I just work. Never stops. And for myself, I think, you know, the people that I did visit, I'm just going to tell you I'm going to miss you. You know, my friend Grant Beck. Thank you for being there for my, Grant, and your 200 dogs, and we had some good times running dogs, you know. Kirk and Lizzy Fabien, thank you for all the meals, hot cooked meals you cooked for me and invited us over. Also, Charlie Kudluk and Lourdes, thank you for always cooking for me. My sister Pauline makes the best lasagna in the NWT, I know that. And Diane and Myhala Newmark, thank you for always, you know, thinking of me with suppers, late nights. You know I'm going to save this one last for you guys here. You know, my family. You know, I want to thanks my brothers and sisters for all my support, my nieces and nephews. You know, as a Member from small communities, most you know, we're away for most holidays and stuff like that. The time and pressure that's put on our family and our spouses, and that's the is our backbone. Just like you, Mr. Speaker, you know we have children at home. I've sacrificed I've sacrificed, Mr. Speaker, my four oldest sorry. I sacrificed my four oldest kids for serving my people, and now I got a 10yearold son. I've been I've been gone too long. You know, the and I've been blessed I've been blessed to do what I do. You know, I got to thank God every day that I wake up and be able to help people and put me in a position like this to do that. For my daughter Chelsea and my soninlaw Justin, Kristin, Matthew, Akeeko, Mitchell, Jema, Miekala, Joseph, and my granddaughter Addison and my son or grandson Alexander, and the people that my elders before me. Some are still here when I started and some are gone on my list. I got to thank my dad for being steadfast and listening to the stories from him and always telling me to work hard because nothing's gonna to be given to you. My mom Bella, that was my role model, and I see that in my wife, same thing. Georgina and Barney, my biological mother, and Barney my stepdad, Masazumi, he was an awesome man. My brothers Joemboy, Fred, that's all I have left. When I started here, I had six brothers here. And my sisters Pauline, Judy, Martina, Mavis, thank you. We've been a lot there's been and my uncles one of the proudest things too is when I leave this building, it's not only me on that wall, Mr. Speaker. It's going to be my uncle John Steen Sr. was the first MLA for Nunakput. You know, my uncle Vince Steen was a Member here and a Minister. And they did both good work, steadfast and hard. And I tried to go that way. And, you know, and keep that I guess it's like a family tradition. And then my uncle Vince again, like I said, he's the one who talked me into running for this. I thank him for that. And rest in peace.
I want to thank like I said, I started off with a lot of people back home. Eddie Gruben, Persus Gruben, Bobby Gruben, Mabel Noksana, Stanley Keevik, Jeannie Keevik, my good friend David Nasogaluak, William Nasogaluak, Jimmy Momagana. Thanks Elsie and Elsie Klengenberg and my uncle Joseph Uliqsik and the family. And one of the and when I first started, put my name forward, I I was in Sachs Harbour for a few days and that was with one of my good friends Andy Carpenter. I'll never forget him. I sat on the board of directors with him with IDC for a lot of years, and he did so much for the people. And Andy was one of my goto guys and my good friend Keith Dodge.
Mr. Speaker, all the mayors in my communities. In Tuk, you got Erwin, Ryan for the community corp. You got Ray and Larry in Paulatuk. And then you got Pat in Ulu for the community corp and Josh Oliktoak in Ulu. Thank you for your service. Thank you for letting me work with you over the years that I've been with you. You know, as a Member, again from the small communities, take you know, they should really take walk in a mile in our shoes for the stuff that we have to put up with. Like you said it earlier today, so easy to judge people. My job as an MLA, I don't judge nobody. 90 percent listening, 10 percent doing the rest. And I take that to heart. I've been a really proud Member of this Assembly, Mr. Speaker.
You know, the community that is so easy to sit at home and put stuff on Facebook of people not happy. We got to break that cycle, Mr. Speaker. People got to want to you know, I always say honour the past, live the present, create the future. And that's what we got to do. People got to want to help themselves. We can't do everything for them. And they got to take the bull by the horn and do it. We can't be doing what we're doing. A lot of this stuff that we're doing, it's been the stuff that we deal with in the communities, the amount of funerals that we've gone to and I've been to a lot of funerals when you could sing off the handbook and not even need the song sheet. And we're caring. We care for our people, Mr. Speaker. We care for them to make a difference in their lives and the youth. And, again, with our youth, every it's so easy to say our youth are our future, our youth are our future, but that's all they say and they don't a back up anything. You got to support them because we got to be hitting them in the communities in the when they're like grade 5 and 6 and 7 and instill in them work ethic. Not just video games. Work ethic. And I know you work with your sons and that with fishing and everything, and they're hardworking young men, they're not little anymore, like when we first started. And just like mine, you know, I I don't have to do nothing for hunting no more. I got my son. I'm really blessed. And I have all my children.
You know, the most again, we I'm going to go through this one now. My favorite seat mates I've had since my three terms is Bob Bromley and Wendy Bisaro. Bob Bromley, I called him Big Bopper. Wendy Bisaro, I called her Mother Superior because she was just remind me of some of the nuns in Grollier Hall. But my next favorite seat mate's Mr. O'Reilly, yeah. And I'm really thankful for all of you that, you know, we've been through all what we've been through.
And for myself, you know, I wouldn't be able to do this without my wife. My wife is my rock. I'm so proud of her. She's been putting up with so much. Me being away. Thank God for FaceTime, you know. And we've been we've been through a lot. Our family's been through a lot but we're still standing. And I'm still going to do good things. I'm not done yet. I'm so blessed to have you in my life, Jenny, and I want to thank God for that. And I still remember when I got you in lunch line at Grollier Hall. She walked ahead of me and when I seen her at lunch line, I said after you. We were 16 years old. And we've been together I'm 51 now. I know I don't look it. But, Mr. Speaker, it's been an honour and a privilege to serve with you.
And this one thing I want to say to my Members, I know I've been hard on everybody. I know that. But I kept it I tried to keep it professional. And I checked it at the door. We're all human beings. We all have families. We all got to work together for the betterment of the people and make the right decisions to come and the next Assembly, when they come, you know, I Mr. Speaker, I wish them all the best because today I'm telling you I'm not going to be running for reelection. I've come to I've come to a point in my life that I've outgrown to myself I've outgrown this place. I want to go home. I want to be with my son Joseph. He's ten years old. And the rest of my children, my grandchildren now. And, Mr. Speaker, I never had to be here the last term any this term anyway. You know, I I'm blessed. But for myself, I'm there's a new chapter in my life. It's my family. I want to go home. I want to run fish net. I want to run skidoo, hunt, you know, and have a good time and run my dogs. Yeah, and be a pooper scooper. Because I poop the scoop quite a bit here too. But, again, Mr. Speaker, the staff, thank you. Mr. Rutland, Kim, Mr. Ball, thank you. I'm very thankful for all that you've done for me. To all our interpreters, thank you so much. Quyananni. To all our staff in the back from EDE, we're still number 1. And just remember one thing, folks, just remember one thing, today when I walk out of that door, the next time I'll be here on official Assembly business, is when I get my painting unveiled. You're not going to get away from me yet. Every time you walk through the door of that building, the second pillar says Jackie Jacobson. So just remember, I'm not going to be wasting my time watching this next Assembly. I'll be out doing my other things, what I what's important to me. But for myself, my family, I got to put my family first. I got other opportunities coming, which I'm really blessed with that I'm working on. But right now I want to spend some time at home and reconnect with my community and getting back into local politics. If they need help, I'll help them. And I'll still be a strong advocate for Nunakput. And just remember one thing, Nunakput's number 1.
And another thing, I always said, eh Kevin, what's good for Yellowknife is good for Nunakput, yeah. And now what's good for and what's good for Ottawa is good for the NWT. Mr. Speaker, quyananni.
Honey, I love you. And now we're going to get out of here pretty quick. So no, again, thank you. Colleagues, thank you. Bless you all. Thank you for all the hard work you've done. It's been a it's been a west wind with fourfoot waves all the time, but we did it. You could say you did it. And thank you for your service. Thank you. Quyananni.
