Yellowknife, NWT, Thursday, December 8, 2011

For thousands of years, the hunters of the Mackenzie Mountain ice patches lived a distinct way of life, and this exhibit and the work being done at this centre are so important to helping us understand the culture and environment of your ancestors.

The way of life of the Tulita Dene was well-suited to this environment, and today you continue this deep attachment to the land and to each other.

I am delighted to meet with elders, chiefs and students on this my first official visit to the Northwest Territories. The beauty of this land and the care you have taken to preserve and to learn from it are part of a long tradition—as is your commitment to working together.

As you and other First Nations grow in number and influence, how can we build upon this success?  How do you envision your leadership role in Canada?

One way to build a bright future is to have a sound understanding of history and past traditions. For this reason I want to thank all who have worked so hard on this exhibit and who have made the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre such a wonderful place of learning and discovery.

The expertise of elders, archaeologists, biologists, geologists and educators is also giving us a greater scientific understanding of the environmental changes that are occurring in the North.

This blend of the old and the new, of combining traditional ways and knowledge with new modes of thinking and doing, represents our best hope for the future.

Sustainability is our shared goal—the sustainability of our families, our communities, our environment and our economy. It is not a matter of ‘either/or’, but rather one of ‘both/and’. As the hunters of the ice patch knew, our wellbeing is intimately connected to the world around us, and in today’s era of profound globalization that is perhaps more true than ever.

So while this exhibit details a way of life dating back thousands of years, there is much of relevance to us today, as we look forward to the challenges ahead.   

Thank you for everything you do to build a smarter, more caring Canada through learning, education and research.