Speaker:   Prior to calling the House to order, we will have an opening prayer. As members will be aware, Sam Johnston of the Teslin Tlingit Council gave the invocation when we opened the First Session of this 31^st Legislative Assembly on February 27, 2003. Mr. Johnston was also the first First Nations person to be elected Speaker of a Legislature in Canada and served the Yukon Legislative Assembly as Speaker from 1985-1992. Today, as a mark of respect for Mayo and its people, Mr. Jimmy Johnny, head of the Elders Council of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun, has been invited to give the opening prayer at this special sitting.

I would now ask the Sergeant-at-Arms, Mr. Rudy Couture, to escort Mr. Johnny to the floor of the House to offer the opening prayer.

Mr. Johnny:   Mahsi' cho. Ladies and gentlemen, I am going to say a prayer in my language, but first of all I would like to welcome all of you to Mayo to help celebrate the 100^th year.

Speaker:   At this time I will call the House to order.

Please be seated.

Speaker:   We will proceed at this time with the Order Paper.

Speaker:   Under the introduction of special guests, the Chair has the honour to introduce Her Worship Shanon Cooper, Mayor of the Village of Mayo, accompanied by her husband, Ken Cooper; Chief Steven Buyck of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun; and the Consul of France, Jean-Yves Defay, accompanied by his wife, Marie-Noelle Defay.

I would also like to introduce Jean Gordon. Mrs. Gordon is a former Member of the Yukon Territorial Council, the name by which the former Legislative Assembly was known when she was elected on September 11, 1967. Mrs. Gordon was the first woman elected to office at the territorial level. Her victory occurred 48 years after the Yukon Act was amended to allow women to vote in Yukon elections. During her term of office, from 1967 to 1970, Jean Gordon was involved in events that transformed the Yukon’s political system. In December of 1969, she, the other six territorial councillors and Commissioner James Smith, travelled to Ottawa to convince Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau to give the Yukon more autonomy. As a result of that trip, the Government of Canada created an Executive Committee for the Yukon. Once the Executive Committee was established, Yukoners, for the first time, had elected representatives in what was the Cabinet of the day. This was an important step toward bringing responsible government to the Yukon, a principle that is now enshrined in the Yukon Act.

In her book, Yukon Women of Power: Political Pioneers in a Northern Canadian Colony, author Joyce Hayden summarized Jean Gordon’s political career this way: "The control Yukon people now have over their daily lives came about because of the persistence of people like Jean Gordon and her colleagues. They were determined that the Yukon become responsible for its own affairs. Jean Gordon provided a thoughtful, reasonable, non-abrasive, commonsense balance to the deliberations of that Council."

I would now ask Mrs. Gordon to stand and be recognized by all present.

Speaker:   We will now proceed with motions.

Mr. Fairclough:  I move

THAT the Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, through the Mayor of the Village of Mayo and the Chief of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun, forward the following address to the people of Mayo:

WHEREAS the people of Mayo celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the creation of the Village of Mayo on June 3, 2003;

WHEREAS the history and heritage of Mayo, including both its land and its people, should be recognized and valued; and

WHEREAS the lives, traditions and cultures of the people of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun and of all others who have come to land deserve honour and respect;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Yukon Legislative Assembly, on behalf of all Yukoners, congratulates the people of Mayo on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the creation of the Village of Mayo.

Speaker:   It has been moved by the hon. Member for Mayo-Tatchun, Eric Fairclough:

THAT the Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly, through the Mayor of the Village of Mayo and the Chief of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun, forward the following address to the people of Mayo:

WHEREAS the people of Mayo celebrated the 100^th anniversary of the creation of the Village of Mayo on June 3, 2003;

WHEREAS the history and heritage of Mayo, including both its land and its people, should be recognized and valued; and

WHEREAS the lives, traditions and cultures of the people of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun and of all others who have come to land deserve honour and respect;

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Yukon Legislative Assembly, on behalf of all Yukoners, congratulates the people of Mayo on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the creation of the Village of Mayo.

Mr. Fairclough:   Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased and honoured to support this motion and salute the community known, for very good reason, as "the heart of the Yukon". As MLA for Mayo-Tatchun, over the past six-and-a-half years, I have always enjoyed every chance I’ve had to spend time here. Today is no exception. We are gathered to celebrate the 100^th anniversary of Mayo’s official commission. Just six days ago, I had the opportunity to attend the first graduation and commencement ceremonies in the new J.V. Clark School. That event, like today’s, was both about celebrating past achievements and about looking forward to the future.

Just like last week’s graduates, the people of Mayo and the surrounding area have a great deal to be proud of. They have achieved remarkable things over the years, often in the face of the adversity and uncertainty that is always part of a resource-based economy — not to mention living in the place that has the distinction of being the coldest and the hottest on this planet. Of course I’m referring not just to the people who have lived here since the heyday of the search for gold and silver, when the decks and docks in Mayo were stacked high with silver ore, waiting for steamboats like the SS Keno to speed them on their way to smelters in the U.S. and to other international markets.

I’m referring not just to the well-known figures of Mayo’s history, such as Al Mayo, and Jack McQuesten, and the Taylors, and the Drurys, and Father Hank, and many, many others. I’m talking about the people who have lived in this area long before the Village of Mayo was officially established and whose grandchildren, and great-great-grandchildren, still call the Stewart River Valley their home: that is, the first peoples of this land.

Many of the Northern Tutchone people who first inhabited the Mayo area had lived in camps along what they call Na Cho Nyäk, or Big River, long before European explorers settled and started to arrive in the 1800s. Others came from as far away as Fort Norman and Fort McPherson, years before a border was drawn between the Yukon and the Northwest Territories. They also came from Fort Selkirk, as well as from the fairly nearby settlement of Lansing. The traditional territory of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun covers a vast area in the central and northern part of what we now call Yukon, and this was true before the Yukon Territory and long before there was a village at the mouth of the Mayo River; and just as Mayo is the heart of the Yukon, it is also the heart of Na Cho Nyäk Dun territory. Of course, while the First Nation is now very closely linked with the Village of Mayo, there was a period of time, from about 1915 until around 1970, when the people of Na Cho Nyäk Dun made their home across the Stewart River, about two miles downstream, in what people still refer to as "the old village".

I said earlier, Mr. Speaker, that this occasion is about celebrating the past and looking to the future. Mayo has a proud history of serving as a transportation and service hub, not just for the mining community and industry, but for outfitters, for wilderness tourism operators, and even for research scientists studying the impacts of climate change. It has played host to visitors from around the world, from backpacking travellers to members of the Royal Family. It has contributed to the economic and social life of the Yukon, and it will continue to do that. Above all, it has been home for generation after generation of some of the finest people in the territory.

Mayo is a community that has experienced successes and setbacks, always with its own unique approach to life. Mayo is a forward-looking community. It has shown leadership in many things, especially how First Nation governments and municipal governments can not only co-exist, but work successfully together. And let’s not forget how Mayo has shown how a small rural community, on the road to the end of the road, can teach much bigger communities how to recycle, how to turn an old storage building into an example of real free enterprise, and how to persuade running fanatics, including you, Mr. Speaker, into spending the summer solstice running up and down hills in the middle of the night.

As Mayo moves into the second century, I know it will continue to demonstrate the strength and spirit that have made it such a proud and progressive community over the past 100 years, and as elected representative of this riding, in concluding my remarks, I can’t help making a few small recommendations to the members opposite.

First, I urge the government never to forget the important role that rural communities like Mayo play in the life of the larger community we call Yukon.

I urge this government to work in partnership with the people of Mayo, with the municipal council, with the First Nation government, in building the local economy, implementing land use planning, proper resource management and environmental protection.

I urge the government to play respectful attention to the priorities of this community in its budget planning.

And, since the Premier will be speaking to this motion in a few moments, I would certainly invite him to take the opportunity to announce plans for a new community centre for Mayo.

Finally, Mr. Speaker, I would like to extend my thanks and congratulations to Mayor Cooper and Chief Buyck and all the people who have worked so hard to make this month’s centennial events a success. Also a thank you to Na Cho Nyäk Dun for welcoming us to your traditional territory so that this event could take place.

Mahsi' cho.

Hon. Mr. Fentie:   To the Member for Mayo-Tatchun, nothing like putting the old Premier on the spot.

Let me begin by first extending, on behalf of the Yukon government, to Mayor Cooper, her council, and the citizens of Mayo, our deepest appreciation for inviting us here today to participate in such a momentous occasion. And to Chief Buyck and the Na Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation, our sincere thank you for hosting us here in your traditional territory.

Mr. Speaker, I am honoured to be here today on the occasion of Mayo’s centennial anniversary. So much history has been compressed into the past 100 years. There are times when I am in a community or other geographic place when I cast my mind back and consider all that has transpired in that location. One hundred years is not really a long time. We have had many Yukoners, 100 years old or better, who have shared their memories with us and helped us to better understand our recent history and, more importantly, they have provided us with a living connection to the past. If it were possible, I wish we could review all the activity that has gone on here over the decades, and see for ourselves the tremendous change that has occurred. Before the white settlers arrived and began their exploring for minerals and other resources, the ancestors of the Na Cho Nyäk Dun made this region their home. It was here where they raised their families, where they gathered the foods that sustained them. It was here they celebrated their lives.

Change came suddenly, and it was due to the discovery of gold, then silver. As we all are familiar, with the gold rush and the influence it had on the territory, the Mayo region was steeped in this profound change.

Today others will talk of the history of the mining in this region, the wealth it created, and the impact it made on our early territorial development. An important part of our history, to be sure; however, I want to talk about the community, of people who have contributed to the development of Mayo. The land may hold great wealth, the resources may be the best in the world, but without the right people there is no success.

Since the very early days, there are a number of families that have become synonymous with the Mayo district, including the Buycks, the Hagers, Johnsons, Peters, Lucases and Moses — and other families that have a proud and strong connection to this area. During the past 100 years, the community of Mayo has witnessed tremendous growth and downturns associated with the mining sector. Floods of new people move into the region, and then all but a few depart, once the pay streak is mined out. The people who stayed worked together to create a community, a community that cooperated to improve the quality of life for all.

In their marvellous book, Gold and Galena, the Mayo Historical Society described a vibrant and purposeful community that lives on today. From the early creation of the school to the fascinating story of the hospital and how it was relocated from Dawson City, the people of Mayo have a strong sense of community.

Mayo residents also know how to have fun. Dances, potluck dinners, costume parties and fundraisers have been held for a variety of purposes, from a mid-winter dance to have some fun, to fundraising for a family devastated by a house fire, the people of Mayo come together for the right reasons.

The people of Mayo, like other Yukoners and Canadians, were touched by the World Wars. Some fathers and sons did not return home from the wars, but with the development of the United Keno Hill Mine, many new people came to Mayo and Keno seeking a job and a new life. The boom years of the ‘50s were a time of great change in the Stewart District. The Mayo hydroelectric project was built to provide power to the Keno Hill Mine, and over time it provided power to Keno City and Mayo, and as we speak, it is connected to Dawson City.

More families were created during this boom period as workers came to work in the mine or on the dam project and stayed to make Mayo their home. The Arthurs, Huttons, Barkers, MacDonalds, Bleilers, Taylors, Wallinghams, Clarks, Zaccarellis and the Djukasteins are a few of the names that have become indelibly connected to the Mayo region.

It is the people who make a community. Over the past 100 years, Mayo and Keno have been blessed with thoughtful, compassionate people who worked hard to create a community in which to raise their families and make a life in the pristine beauty of this area.

Today, as we reflect on the past century, I can see many similarities in the people from the past and the people from today. We have not changed all that much. We still want healthy communities. We want happy, healthy children and educational systems that will prepare them for a promising future. We want jobs and an economy that allows us to live a lifestyle of our choosing. We want quality health care. We want a quality of life that can sustain us into the future.

Together, we are working toward these goals. In partnership with First Nations and local governments we are embarking on a future of change. While we work to change our economic situation for the better, there are some things I think we do not wish to change: the warmth and friendliness of a small community like Mayo is something I believe we wish to expand upon. We want the closeness of our children as they grow up and begin families of their own. We want the opportunity to contribute to the management of our communities through participation in local government, and we want to ensure the beauty of this land remains for generations to come.

In closing, I would like to extend my thanks to the people of Mayo for your kind hospitality. I would also like to wish you every success in the celebration of your centennial anniversary. With your hard work and thoughtful planning I am confident it will be an outstanding success.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Ms. Taylor: Mr. Speaker, it is indeed my honour and privilege to be here this evening to congratulate the people of Mayo on the occasion of the 100^th anniversary of the creation of the Village of Mayo, and to pay tribute to each and every person who has ever had the opportunity to live in this community.

One hundred years is indeed a significant accomplishment. It is especially significant, given that our territory is just over 100 years, which, I should also add, tomorrow marks our 105^th birthday as well.

The people of Mayo, many of whom I know personally and are here this evening with us, have been very busy preparing and organizing a host of local events to occur in Mayo over the course of the summer in celebration of its centenary — events that include the recommissioning of the town, Canada Day celebrations, a Keno signpost party, National Aboriginal Day, Mayo Midnight Marathon, hikes up Mt. Haldane, Mt. Albert and Keno Hill, ball tournaments, and so forth.

At this time, I would like to especially thank the Village of Mayo, the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun for their hospitality on their traditional territory, the Silver Trail Association and the people of the community for all of their hard work and efforts over the course of the last year to undertake this very important and momentous initiative.

The community has enjoyed a tremendous track record of hosting a wide array of events over the years and has been especially successful in its ability to make visitors feel very welcome and at home. This evening is certainly no exception.

Mr. Speaker, having all Members of the Yukon Legislative Assembly convene in Mayo today to hold a special sitting in recognition of its centenary not only demonstrates each member’s support to the community, it also serves to recognize the very development, accomplishments and achievements of Mayo over the last 100 years.

As Minister of Tourism and Culture, I take special pride in promoting the Yukon and all that it has to offer, whether it may be that of history and heritage of our fine land or our people of past and present.

The Village of Mayo and the surrounding communities along the Silver Trail region are perhaps some of the most interesting, not to mention alluring, places in our territory that one can visit today. From gold to galena, to the birth of the Silver Trail, the community of Mayo boasts a diversity that is both rich in First Nation culture as well as pioneer and mining history.

For those who have not had the opportunity to see for themselves, the Silver Trail represents an impressive concentration of artists and craftspeople who sell beading, moose hair tufting, moccasins, quilts, paintings, carvings and jewellery, to name but a few.

On the cultural scale, one can take in the renowned Binet House and the Keno City Mining Museum for a taste of how things were and what we have become today. For the more adventurous, one can take hikes up Mt. Haldane, Mt. Albert and Keno Hill, which offer not only exceptional views, but world-class examples of geomorphic land forms unique to the region and sought after by the best of the best geologists and scientists today.

While the world is all too familiar with the Klondike Gold Rush, not many may be as familiar with the rush to the Silver Trail. Unbeknownst to many, it was the Duncan Creek stampede in 1901-02, followed by the 1903 discovery of silver in the same area that actually triggered the establishment of Mayo and ensured that development would take place.

Mayo grew as gold was found in other creeks in the district and boomed with the development of silver discoveries, which in turn contributed to the economic well-being of the entire territory.

Although the majority of prospectors and miners have, by and large, come and gone over the years, with the exception of my family and a few others, remnants of the life they lived remain with us today in either the form of abandoned shacks, trappers’ cabins or artefacts that can be viewed here in Mayo at the Binet House as well as at the Keno City Mining Museum.

As many members are very aware, I have grown to become familiar with the Mayo region as this particular area is where my husband and his father and his grandfather have consecutively and successfully staked claims. It was actually during the 1930s that my husband’s grandfather, Fred Taylor, first staked claims in this area and, to this day, those same claims are still actively mined.

Because of these ties, I certainly hold a special part of my heart for this area.

While the people of Mayo have seen their fair share of changes over the last 100 years, one thing that has remained constant is that of its warm hospitality and strong sense of community.

Individuals I would like to recognize today include the original members of the Mayo Historical Society who were instrumental in putting together the book, Gold and Galena, otherwise known as "the bible of Mayo". I refer to members such as Lyn Bleiler, who I believe is here with us today, Linda MacDonald, Ina-Mae Klippert, who is also here with us, and Bev Mason-Wood, among others, who recognized the very importance of collecting and documenting family stories and historical accounts encompassing the development of the Mayo region, and did just that.

To these individuals and all others who had a hand in the completion of this project, a special thank you. Without this work, a large part of Mayo’s development as an economic and culturally diverse area would be lost and long forgotten today.

I would also like to recognize and thank Mayor Cooper, Chief Buyck and Mrs. Jean Gordon for their significant contributions to the development of this region as well as to the development of the territory.

Again, I extend my heartfelt congratulations to the people of Mayo for their many contributions to the development of not only this region, but to the entire territory.

I take great pride in being able to take part in this momentous occasion, and I look forward to participating in other events being held this summer.

Thank you.

Mr. Hardy:   Mr. Speaker, as you can see, it is quite hard for politicians to shorten their speeches down to four minutes, and I know Patrick has been really adamant about that, but I don’t know if it is a challenge we all have to learn up here.

Anyway, I want to thank the Village of Mayo and the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun for the invitation to attend this sitting and for allowing us to be part of your celebrations this year. You have also blessed us with tremendous weather. It is absolutely gorgeous out there, and I am sure everybody would like to get out there.

Congratulations to the community, and especially to the people who have organized the centennial events. One hundred years is an extremely important milestone and not many of them actually do come along in the Yukon — especially for villages and cities and towns. It is a very good moment to reflect on what community life is in rural Yukon. It is also critical for your government to understand what you are all about, how you think, how you make a living, what you need and especially what you contribute to the Yukon society as a whole. As you can see, your MLA never misses a beat to ask this government to provide what you desire, such as a new community centre or a rec centre. You can also see that the government has learned quickly how to avoid answering that one. Maybe we will still get an announcement from the government. I am very hopeful. There are 10 more people yet to get up and speak.

Mayo has had excellent representation in the Yukon government over the years, and when I say this, I think of representation you have had from Piers McDonald, who represented this region for a long time. Danny Joe, another very fine and respected representative. Of course, the sitting member you have right now, Eric Fairclough, who continuously reminds us of the region of Mayo, its needs and the concerns that are expressed up here. Of course, Jean Gordon, who is here tonight and was the first woman, as was mentioned earlier, to be elected to the Yukon Legislature, and that is something to be extremely proud of, and it was very ground-breaking in this territory.

As you probably all recognize, all of these people are leaders in their own right and a testament to the strength of the people who come from this region and this riding.

Small communities like Mayo are a critical part of what the Yukon is all about. Communities like this help define the Yukon and bind it together.

While driving here, your MLA mentioned the sign, and I saw it too. There are trees growing up all around it on the highway. Maybe we should stop and clear it out again. It is the hottest and the coldest place. Then there is another sign just as you are coming into Mayo. It is a beautiful sign, and it says, "The Heart of the Yukon". It truly is in many ways, the heart of the Yukon, because I hold this place quite dear in my heart. While growing up, I came up to this region many times. Of course, I am familiar with Elsa being up in that area, and Keno City farther on also is a very unique place, but Mayo has been the centre. And it truly is, in my view, the heart of the Yukon.

Saying that, I would be really remiss not to remind all people here that when the NDP looks at the Yukon and the communities, we think of one community. We think of how we connect and interact and how we work together and there should never be an "us and them" in the Yukon. We are all part of one community. Part of the government’s role is to make sure people have choices where and how they choose to live. For rural communities, that means making sure that the best opportunities possible are presented — good education, economic opportunities, recreational facilities, public infrastructure and quality health and social services. As elected representatives, our jobs are to make sure that all Yukoners in all communities are treated with respect and given the opportunities they deserve. Good government should not depend on how you vote, who you are or where you live. Mayo is every bit as important in the Yukon fabric as Watson Lake or Dawson City or Whitehorse. We must believe this, and we must act in that manner for the future of Mayo and all communities of the Yukon

Thank you.

Hon. Mr. Hart:   Unlike the members opposite or the members on my side, I will have no trouble meeting the four-minute requirement.

I am very pleased to be here, and honoured to help the Village of Mayo and the Na Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation celebrate their 100^th anniversary. Mayo has had a long history in being one of the major economic generators to the Yukon’s economy, commencing with the original gold rush, the discovery of silver in the area, placer mining and the continued development of their tourism industry via the Silver Trail.

The Village of Mayo motto, as the member just recently stated, is that it is the hottest and coldest spot in the Yukon. If today’s weather is any indication, it could be a hot summer here in Mayo, and you will have to forgive me, as the minister responsible for fire protection, I will be praying for a little rain to keep it a little manageable.

I would like to commend the village and the First Nation for their continuing to work together for the betterment of the community while honouring their respective heritage, culture, and especially the elders and the founding families of this community.

From a personal point of view, this is where I met my wife some 23 years ago, so Mayo has a special place in my heart, as well as a memory. Some of my escapades at that time were very colourful, shall we say. Despite the rumours going around here on the number of visits I have had recently, I am not running for the Mayor of Mayo.

I look forward to the celebrations planned for Mayo over the summer in the celebration of their 100^th anniversary. I would like to commend Mayor Cooper and Chief Steven Buyck on the great job they did last week with the recommissioning of the village and their graduation ceremonies. I wish them every success with the remainder of their planned summer events and hope that the weather stays with them and they go off without a hitch.

Thank you very much.

Mr. Rouble:   Mr. Speaker, it is my pleasure and my honour to be here today to help celebrate the 100^th anniversary of Mayo, and I rise in support of the motion before us today.

This is truly a beautiful community, full of natural beauty, rich resources and wonderful people. Folks, you have a lot to be proud of.

The last 100 years have seen a tremendous amount of change throughout the planet and, indeed, Mayo is no different. Congratulations on overcoming the challenges and reaping the rewards of the last 100 years.

I would also like to recognize that this area was a community and a home before it was formally recognized as Mayo. The people of the Na Cho Nyäk Dun have called this area home since the earliest times.

I would also like to thank you folks for bringing us out to your community. As a representative of a rural riding, I, too, feel it is important, as the Member for Whitehorse Centre just mentioned, to get outside of Whitehorse, because, according to some, Whitehorse is to Yukon as Toronto is to Canada. It is important to get out and see the communities and be in the land that we love.

I would also like to thank the leader of the third party for putting forward the motion that brought us here today.

I would like to offer my congratulations to you, the people of Mayo, for building such a wonderful community, and I would like to offer my best wishes for the next 100 years.

Ms. Duncan:   Good evening, fellow Yukoners.

When I first received the suggestion from Mayor Shanon Cooper and Chief Steven Buyck in a letter that we have a special legislative sitting in Mayo, I was honoured to present it as a motion in our Legislature. I would like to thank my colleagues for their support for that motion. We legislators can work together and we are honoured and very pleased to be a part of Mayo’s centennial celebrations. Thank you, Chief Buyck, for welcoming us to Na Cho Nyäk Dun’s traditional territory, and thank you, Mayor Cooper, and all the citizens of Mayo for welcoming us here.

A 100-year young Yukon community. What an achievement. Congratulations, Mayo.

Mayo truly is a very special place at the heart of the Yukon. Like all of us in our hearts, the connections that Mayo has throughout the Yukon have been spoken about this evening and are quite legendary.

A few years ago, my husband and I had the pleasure of travelling with the Prime Minister on a Team Canada mission. Prime Minister Chrétien asked my husband Monsieur Berube, "Where were you born?" To which Daryl responded, "Well, it is a small community in the Yukon called Mayo."

Mr. Chrétien said, "Isn’t there a sign at Mayo that says something about the hottest and the coldest place in the Yukon?" He actually mentioned that sign as being at the airport. I don’t recall seeing the sign at the airport, but I certainly appreciated the fact that our Prime Minister knew all about Mayo.

Of course, a number of distinguished people know all about Mayo. The visit by Prince Charles in the spring of 2001 showcased the community of Mayo and the Yukon to the world. His visit here was a very special highlight of his first trip to the Yukon. Prince Charles thoroughly enjoyed his trip here. He commented to me about the incredible light in the Yukon and how it was reflected by the artists here in Mayo, and the warmth of the people — even the snowman in the spring — and above all, the sense of community. It is this sense of community that distinguishes Mayo and why we have a wonderful opportunity to celebrate 100 years this year.

Mayo is just another beautiful place in the Yukon. Mayo is more than the buildings — the spaces where we meet and share our stories. You know, sometimes we wonder, as politicians and as people involved in our community, if we have accomplished anything, if we have made a difference. I was delighted to look at the new school, in which so many Members of the Legislature have had a part, and to see the May trees blooming that we had planted when we opened the new school.

I would like to recognize and remember the members who have served Mayo in the past. Piers McDonald is remembered as the Member for Mayo who ensured the road was chipsealed. We pay tribute to the accomplishments of Jean Gordon and others and, of course, our current sitting Member for Mayo-Tatchun as well.

I would encourage all members of the community to keep working as you have done in the past and work toward that new rec centre, as a number of Members of the Legislature, including me and the Member for Mayo-Tatchun, will continue to work for your community — a community that works together — a community that is the heart of the Yukon. It holds a very special place in all of our hearts.

It was mentioned earlier this evening about the solid working relationship between the First Nation and the municipal council — the joint council meetings — and that Mayo was one of the first communities to have a renewable resource council as mandated under the Umbrella Final Agreement.

There is the work of your citizens, Lyn Bleiler, Linda MacDonald and others for their work on Gold and Galena, the Binet House. You have wonderful stories of the families from Mayo, Elsa, Keno, Calumet joining you here in activities in Mayo, gathering in Mayo, curling, the bonspiels, the gardens in Mayo, travelling by wheelbarrow between Elsa and Mayo. There are many wonderful stories. They are stories about a community and a community that holds a very special place in all our hearts — the heart of the Yukon.

Congratulations, Mayo. I hope you have a wonderful year of celebrations.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Mr. Edzerza:  Mr. Speaker, to start, I would like to thank the Na Cho Nyäk Dun for inviting us and allowing us to come into their traditional territory. I would also like to thank the mayor and the Village of Mayo for inviting us here.

I would also like to state at this time that I must remind the opposition that we are not on an election campaign here. We are only in our first year.

I would like to give recognition from a traditional perspective, and I say that because the traditional people and the non-native people have very different values. I recognize the miners who worked the gold claims and the silver claims. They were adventure seekers and they found it here. This is an area rich in all the possibilities for adventure. I would like to give equal recognition to the First Nations people of this region, who live in this area and have lived here for hundreds of years, and quite possibly selected it because of its sustainability, and not for its gold.

Mr. Speaker, I recognize the cultural differences, and I will share some of my own opinions and some of my views with you. First I would say that the natural resources to the non-native visitors to this region were gold and silver, and possibly furs; however, when the silver mines are gone, and the gold is gone, the people are gone, and rightfully so. When a gold miner has no more gold to look for, he will go somewhere

else and look for it, because it is a very interesting occupation. I have gold claims myself, and I have had gold fever myself, too, so I know what it is about.

Secondly, I say that when it comes to the First Nations and their perspectives of natural resources, it is quite different. Being a First Nation person myself, I understand this very well. Some of the things we look for in natural resources are an abundance of game, fish, lots of nice land. That is what is important to us. I believe the geological location of this area really was a contributing factor as to why the First Nations people even selected this area. The river running by made excellent transportation, and there were probably a lot of fish. There was an abundance of food. I was talking to some of the elders here, and they said that before the gold rush and the miners coming here, there was an abundance of game. It was a very good place to live because of the hot climate in the summer for growing things. The other thing that was very important was that there was an abundance of land, and land is what is important to First Nations people. It was and always will be, because a First Nations person is more geared toward going after land than they are after gold. It has been told to me by several individuals over the years that they know of places within this region, and in Carmacks, where they have seen gold as big as a fingernail. They never bothered to go back to it, because they don’t want to see the changes. They will leave it in the creek.

I can only imagine and respect the changes that occurred in this region over the past 100 years. Upon talking to some of the elders, they sum it up very easily and very quickly when they say that it is not like it used to be. There are a lot of positive changes. Anyone would have a very difficult time stopping progress, because it will happen. I would also like to give recognition to the Na Cho Nyäk Dun who, over the years, went from an Indian Act band to one that is now self-governing. They have some very challenging times ahead of them, and I have all the confidence that they are going to succeed in what they do. I also congratulate them on being able to recognize that there are other levels of government in the territory, and to work side by side to create unity in the communities. This is a blessing. I pray to the Creator that he will bless the citizens of Mayo with another 100 years of positive progress.

Thank you.

Mahsi' cho.

Mr. Arntzen:   It gives me great pleasure to rise in this House today to congratulate the people of Mayo on its 100^th anniversary.

I had the pleasure of visiting Mayo for the first time some 34 years ago. That was in 1969, late March, early April, if I remember correctly. It was a beautiful winter’s day, and the reason for my visit was to introduce and demonstrate cross-country skiing to this region. Some of you might remember that. I also participated in the Yukon downhill ski championship, which was held in Calumet. It was a very great experience. The conditions were fantastic. The snow was perfect, and I met many of the citizens of Mayo on that trip. It is a pleasure today to meet you again and visit with you.

Mayo has been a large part of Yukon’s history in many ways, as many speakers have said before. Particularly when it came to mining, Mayo played a very integral part in the supply route for Keno and Elsa — in the early days as a shipping point with horse and buggy, hauling ore concentrate to the steamships and in later years as a supply centre for the trucking operations for White Pass and Cassiar Transport. I remember those years. They were in the 1970s. I also had the pleasure of being part of that era, as I was a truck driver and I came to Mayo regularly. As a matter of fact, daily, when we hauled freight and petroleum products into Mayo, and then returned to Whitehorse with ore concentrate from the mine sites.

Yes, Mayo was a transportation hub in the heartland of the Yukon. I see that many of the citizens of Mayo whom I met and worked with back some 30 years ago are here today, and it gives me great pleasure to personally congratulate you on your efforts and your contribution to the Village of Mayo. I would like to thank you for allowing me to be part of your celebration. I will be voting for the motion.

Thank you.

Mr. Cardiff:   I would like to thank Chief Buyck and Mayor Cooper and the citizens of Mayo for inviting us here today to take part in this special legislative sitting. I would like to say a few words about the people of Mayo.

I moved to the Yukon in 1976, and my very first trip to Mayo was actually on an evening not unlike tonight. I was sitting around in Whitehorse with a buddy of mine by the name of David Joyce. We were sitting around wondering what we were going to do. At about 2:30 in the morning, we decided we were going to visit David’s brother, Peter, who was working at Keno 700. We loaded up the truck, got the cooler ready to go, and off we set for Keno. We hoped to arrive by lunch time. It was quite a trip, including running out of gas and pushing the truck into Stewart Crossing, because gas stations weren’t open at that hour of the day, but we did make it to Keno in time for lunch. We spent a couple of days in Keno visiting with David’s brother. In the meantime, unbeknownst to me, my buddy and partner went out and got himself a job, which meant that I had to drive his decrepit truck back to Whitehorse.

That is how I came to be in Mayo. I got to Mayo and put in $5 worth of gas and filled up the oil. About 10 miles out of town, the truck broke down, so I hoofed it back to Mayo and spent the night in the Chateau Mayo. At that time, I met a few people I had known previously through construction, I guess, and was invited over to their homes and was welcomed. So that was my very first experience with Mayo. I was welcomed into the community. People understood my plight. I was without transportation; I had my buddy’s dog with me. It was quite the experience. In the years since then, I have had many occasions to visit Mayo and I have always been welcomed, whether it has been as a construction worker, working in your homes, in your businesses or in the institutions here in Mayo. I was involved with the Yukon College and came to visit Mayo on several occasions. I have always been welcomed, and I have a very warm place in my heart for Mayo, the heart of the Yukon.

So, congratulations to the citizens of Mayo and the Na Cho Nyäk Dun First Nation in celebrating the 100^th anniversary of the Village of Mayo, and I look forward to another 100 years, and I look forward to visiting you again.

Thank you.

Hon. Mr. Jenkins:   Mr. Speaker, I rise very much in support of this motion to join with the Village of Mayo and the residents here and the traditional territory of the Na Cho Nyäk Dun to celebrate this 100^th anniversary.

This community, judging by the events that they have in place, certainly is not going to run out of gas from what I see. It has a lot going for it and a lot of potential. Yes, mining has gone through a downturn, but so goes the resource industry. It doesn’t mean that there aren’t still resources in this area, but the greatest resource of all are the people — the residents here. This is the first community in the Yukon that I am aware of, Mr. Speaker, that has begun, and continues to hold, joint council meetings between the Na Cho Nyäk Dun and the Village of Mayo, and that continues. They have set a precedent here, and that precedent should be recognized all across the Yukon.

Yes, it was the quest for gold and the discovery of silver that put Mayo on the map as the trading and transportation hub, and electricity from a hydro dam. Now it is a by-product that they are shipping to Dawson, so we benefit. The accomplishments and achievements and the community spirit here will all keep us in good stead to recognize those. I would like to be a fly on the wall at the 200^th anniversary here, Mr. Speaker — that is if my trousers don’t shrink any more. I can see a community that is vibrant and, once again, the heart of the Yukon that it was in the past.

Mr. Speaker, I am in support of this motion. This is a great motion, and I am pleased to be a part of the Legislative Assembly here, joining with the residents in this area to celebrate this occasion.

Thank you.

Merci.

Mahsi' cho.

Mr. Hassard:   Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. I, too, rise in support of this motion. It is indeed a great pleasure to be here today to help celebrate the 100^th anniversary of the Village of Mayo.

In January, I was in town and met with Mayor Cooper and others. It was very obvious at that time, from the amount of paper in the council chambers, that there was a lot of work going on. It is great to see that all of that work is worth it today, because I am sure that you sweated it out for a long time.

Having grown up in Teslin, I share many of the same concerns that the people of Mayo do. I agree with the Member for Mayo-Tatchun, Mr. Fairclough, when he spoke of the need for municipal governments and First Nation governments to work together, and I know from being on the municipal council in Teslin that, combined, the voice of the community is that much stronger. So keep up the good work, Mayor Cooper and Chief Buyck.

This is only my fourth trip to Mayo, and it is the first time that I have actually had some time to look around. I haven’t met a lot of people here yet, but I did have the pleasure of attending high school with Chief Buyck, and I am curious, when he speaks, if he will talk about our grade 11 mechanics class. I can’t imagine that either one of us imagined being here today. It just goes to show what you can do in the Yukon.

I would like to extend an invitation to all the people of Mayo to, at some point, stop in and join us for a day of our regular session. I will let you decide whether it was enjoyable or not.

Congratulations, Mayo, and thank you for having us.

Applause

Mr. Speaker, respected elders, Chief Buyck and council, Mayor Cooper, members of the Na Cho Nyäk Dun, I thank you for allowing us to meet on your traditional lands. Mahsi' cho for your kind hospitality. This is my first trip to this beautiful country. The Gwitchin people have a very special connection with this community through the late Reverend Julius Kendi and his wife, Persis Kendi. We have many relatives in this community. They were blessed to have two homes. When Grandma Persis Kendi used to come home to Old Crow to visit in the summer months, I spent hours with her, by guiding her around to visit her relatives and her friends because she had lost her eyesight. I used to sit and listen to the many stories of her life out on the land enjoying hunting, trapping and fishing. She was very happy with her people.

It is from our ancestors, Mr. Speaker, that we have our solid foundation. We take that legacy to move forward in today’s world so that our children may also live in harmony. It is very important that all levels of government work together to address the issues we have in our communities, such as justice, environment, education, just to name a few.

In north Yukon, we are all users of the Porcupine caribou herd. Besides facing the challenges of development, the herd is also on a decline. We have to take responsibility to preserve this herd so that we can continue to enjoy this source of food for a long time to come. This is part of our history. It is part of our tradition and our culture.

It is a great honour for me today to be part of the celebrations, to acknowledge the 100 year anniversary of the creation of the Village of Mayo, and also the first woman to be elected in Mayo. I am very proud to acknowledge that part of our history today, and acknowledge the presence of Jean Gordon. Thank you for blazing our trail.

We are a rich people, Mr. Speaker. Our land, our animals, our rivers will sustain us. We need to take responsibility as decision makers in this so that in another 100 years our grandchildren may celebrate again in this beautiful land.

Mahsi' cho.

Hon. Mr. Lang:   I would like to join in support of this motion. It is a great pleasure to be here in Mayo. Forty-five years ago, I spent some of my childhood in and around the community, so it is a pleasure to be back here with the many faces that I see here this evening.

When you have lived in Mayo, you never lose touch with Mayo. Mayo follows you around and, with people in my age group, not only did it follow us around to the many communities I lived in, and the many situations I found myself in, but also, I always found work in Mayo. If, in high school, you couldn’t find work in Watson Lake, you couldn’t find work wherever, you could always come to Mayo in the summer and there was a job here for you. So, Mayo, in the 1960s and 1970s, was a pool of resources for the young who were going to school and looking for work and opportunity.

Mayo was built on the foundation of the First Nation and the minerals that were found in the area. Minerals are very important. It is a very rich valley. When I was a young man, working in Keno, in Calumet, you went up to where the sign posts are and you looked down the valley to Mayo. There were 1,500 people working in that valley every day. That is not a very long valley, but it is a very rich area mineral wise. It is a very rich area, as the other speakers have talked about, in natural beauty. Mayo is, and was in the past, a fabulous dream community. The First Nations lived here, hunted here. The resources, the animals — everything was in the Mayo area. It was the coldest place in the Yukon, but it was also the warmest place in the Yukon, so it was a very interesting community. It had an interesting blend of people: the new generation, like Mayor Shanon Cooper and Chief Steve Buyck, and the community getting together in troubled times, economically, looking for avenues for resources for their community as a group, which is very important.

In celebrating the 100^th year of Mayo, I would like to thank Steve Buyck, the Chief of the Na Cho Nyäk Dun, and Mayor Cooper for having this Legislative Assembly have a special sitting here in the community. It is very fitting that we come to Mayo. Thank you very much.

Again, as different members have said — the opposition and ourselves — it is important for us, as government, to go to the smaller communities and talk about the challenges that you as a community face on a daily basis, being a small community in the Yukon with all the problems you have. So, again, it is a learning experience for us as government and as a Legislative Assembly. It is learning for all of us and I appreciate that.

Of all the people I have met from Mayo, I spent a lot of time with Betty Taylor. Betty Taylor is the best ambassador Mayo ever had. Betty Taylor talks about her youth; Betty Taylor talks about when she was married in Mayo. She talks about the many important people who came from Mayo — and there are quite a few people who have come from Mayo who went on with their lives and made quite a success of their lives — and the love she has for the community. Nobody could talk about a community as much as Betty does and not have a sincere love for the community.

It has a great history of people; it has a great history of community, and I think the future is here for us as Yukoners and you as Mayo. I think if we were to take a look at the future of Mayo, I think it is here in the room. We have our youth here. We have the First Nations. We have everybody working together for the future of the whole community.

In closing, I would like to apologize. I made a social blunder and did not recognize, when she walked in, Irene Hutton. I would like to apologize for that.

Happy birthday, Mayo, and many more. Thank you again for having us all up here.

Mr. Cathers:   I would like to begin by thanking Mayor Cooper, Chief Buyck and both their councils for having us here today. It is an honour and a pleasure to congratulate the people of Mayo on the 100^th birthday of your village. Mayo owes its existence to pioneers, and particularly First Nations people and the mining community. Their courage to take bold steps in uncharted country remains in the hearts of the people of Mayo today as they continue to push the boundaries of what is safe and comfortable and try new ways of working and dealing with the rapid changes and challenges they face in today’s world.

The pioneer spirit is indeed alive and well in the Village of Mayo today, and I would also like to congratulate the people of Mayo for their continuing efforts to preserve and enhance the shared heritage and culture of their part of the Yukon.

I know that during the past number of years, as was raised by hon. members here today, Mayo and many other rural areas of the Yukon have felt ignored by the Yukon government. The people of Lake Laberge, which of course is the riding I represent, have also felt ignored by what they felt were Whitehorse-centric governments of the Yukon.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to make it clear today to the people of Mayo, and indeed to all Yukoners, that changing this, that making the Government of Yukon a government that works for the good of all Yukoners in all regions of the Yukon, is one of my main goals as an MLA.

Mr. Speaker, all my government colleagues are committed to working together with the members opposite, First Nations, local governments and all Yukoners for the betterment of all Yukoners in all regions of the Yukon. With any luck, we will have some success.

I would like to close by thanking, once again, the people of Mayo, and thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Hon. Mr. Kenyon:   As our proceedings today are being recorded in Hansard, I should enter into the public record that that is the shortest speech that Mr. Cathers has ever made — under two minutes.

I, too, rise today to support the motion and to thank Mayor Cooper, Chief Buyck and all of the respected guests for inviting us here and for extending the hospitality of the area.

Having spent 20 years in Toronto — or as I sometimes refer to as "having done 20 years in Toronto" — I always wondered why most of the country sort of felt badly about that and felt that they were dominating events. I don’t quite spit when I say the word "Toronto", but I am getting close to it. We have an enormous land; we have an enormous capability in all of Canada, and to centre on one area or to centre on Whitehorse rather than the rest of the Yukon is incredibly short-sighted.

Being a politician and getting into that, I would like to take the great accolades from the leader of the official opposition on the wonderful weather. The Department of Environment was very happy to arrange that. Of course, when the weather is bad, it is because of those idiot feds down in Kelowna, but if it is good weather, we will always take the credit for it.

The problem, too, in speaking at the end of the speaking order is that the best lines are taken. As Minister Lang pointed out, this is maybe the coldest and the hottest part of the territory, but in my experience, it has always been the warmest. I first came here 15 years ago and had a hard time leaving. It was certainly one of the factors in the decision. I came up here to help move a truck. The truck went back; I didn’t.

I found a lot of humour in going through the museum here and finding the medical display and the anaesthetic machine that goes back to 1931. It was exactly the same one I was using in my research lab. It is amazing what you can do and what you can use, and the free spirit of the Yukon was certainly a big part of it.

I had the great honour of coming up for your wellness day a few weeks ago. It was an amazing event, which I would highly recommend to any community in the territory. It was a great success; it drew a lot of people together, and it really was quite incredible.

One of the things that, again, came up among the members opposite, was that it is the point of opposition to constantly question — not necessarily criticize, but ask the hard questions. But you also have to remember that it is the main job of government not to answer them. Sometimes that can lead to rather strange debate, but I think what we all have to remember is that, although we have different viewpoints or different ways of approaching things, good ideas come out of any political environment, and it is essential to realize that we are on the same team and that we are trying to get to the same point in time and space and comfort. We may be looking at different roads, but we are going to the same place.

Again, it gives me great pleasure to speak to the motion and to support that motion and to thank the members of all the various levels of government, orders of government, the people of Mayo for inviting us here, having us here, putting up with us here.

Thank you very much.

Mahsi' cho.

Speaker:   That concludes the speakers.

Speaker:   The House will now stand in recess for a brief period. I would ask everyone to remain seated as we invite the Mayor of the Village of Mayo, and the Chief of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun to speak to this gathering.

Speaker:   I would ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort Her Worship Shanon Cooper to the podium.

Mayor Cooper:   Mr. Speaker, Members of the Assembly, ladies and gentlemen, it gives the Village of Mayo great pleasure to welcome you, and I will say it once again, "to the heart of the Yukon". Thank you very much for your kind words.

Hearing all of you speak brings back many memories. Mr. Speaker, I think it is one of your member’s relatives who was in the wheelbarrow that went from Elsa to Mayo. Also Mr. Speaker, I think the trophy for the men’s downhill ski championships in Calumet went to Flo Whyard’s daughter that year, because there was no women’s category in the ski championships. It brings back lots of memories.

If you ever want to know how to wash dishes, you can ask Archie Lang. He washed dishes in Calumet years ago in the 1960s.

On behalf of myself and the council, we feel that we are receiving the highest honour the government can give. You are taking the time and effort to have this special sitting tonight in recognition of Mayo’s centennial birthday. You have travelled from Whitehorse and your home communities and brought the ritual and tradition of government with you, and we thank you.

We are participating in history in the making. This is the first time in 100 years, and the first time for us, that the Legislature is sitting in Mayo. The pride that that gives our community will ever be remembered and will be reflected in our stories from this time on.

Tonight we take a step back in time, recalling 1903 in our dress and recalling events of a bygone era. The past brings memories of previous leaders and MLAs who have come from the Silver Trail. Jean Gordon, the first woman MLA — you have been rightly honoured. Gordon Lee, an MLA’s nephew and wife are here tonight, Ray McKamey, Ron Rivett, Swede Hanson, Gordon McIntyre, Piers McDonald, to name a few.

Tomorrow, as has already been mentioned, the Yukon Territory becomes 105 years old. We have been part of it for the whole 105 years, and a town for 100 of it. Mayo has held joint council meetings with our close neighbours, the government of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun, for 25 years of these 100 years — a quarter of a century.

We stand as one of the strong pioneer communities, and we celebrate our heritage with you.

This evening we have the opportunity to get to speak with you directly — more dynamic in some sense than hearing, seeing or reading the news.

For the elders, on asking them what they thought of your visit and coming here tonight, they said it would be fun. For parents, they said it was a chance to see how government works that many people do not take the opportunity to experience and was an example of proactive municipal/territorial government. For the youth, their response was that it was good. The senior level of government is here because they are the Yukon territorial government and not the Whitehorse territorial government.

As we gear up for the Mayo centennial events surrounding the Canada Day weekend, let this sitting of the Yukon Legislature be a special reminder that we have a glorious history that we are part of. The people who lead us do have a personal interest in us, in that it is in working together that builds strong communities.

Gary McRobb, the MLA who is absent here tonight, sent a letter yesterday expressing his congratulations and acknowledgement of the volunteers and organizers who have done so much to bring us together.

Thank you all for sharing this period of celebration with us, and for travelling to Mayo on this very moving occasion.

Thank you very much.

Speaker:   I would now ask the Sergeant-at-Arms to escort Chief Steven Buyck to the podium.

Chief Buyck: Mr. Speaker, hon. Members of the Legislature, distinguished guests, fellow colleagues, ladies and gentlemen and respected elders, on behalf of myself, my family, the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun, the community of Mayo, it brings me great pride, honour and joy for this opportunity to welcome you, the Legislative Assembly, to Mayo, our home and the traditional territory of the First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun, home of the Northern Tuchone people.

At this time, I would like to say mahsi' cho to our respected elder, Jimmy Johnny, for his prayers. I would also like to thank Mayor Cooper for her enlightening words. I would also like to extend a special welcome and a thank you for the hon. Member for the Mayo-Tatchun riding, Eric Fairclough, for the motion and his continued dedication to his riding.

The First Nation of Na Cho Nyäk Dun would also like to take this opportunity to thank governments, both previous and the present, and also to express our appreciation for the continued efforts of both the federal government and the territorial government working along with us in creating partnerships such as forest fire contract opportunities, Keno Hill initiatives, the Representative Service Plan, which outlines how government can build First Nation representation in governments’ workforce, including training opportunities, cross-cultural orientation, economic opportunity plans, which are to be used as stepping stones to create regional economic opportunities — a plan that will involve all stakeholders of this region. There is also the STEP program — from an environmental technician — this program allowed our economic development corporation to hire and provide work experience for some of our people.

We look forward to the continued and future partnerships, which will evolve through the successful implementation of our final and self-government agreements.

I would like to introduce our bible. It took 20 years to finalize it. We are now in our 10^th year of our self-government agreement. In this, there are 28 chapters in our final agreement. I would like to ask hon. members of the House, the hon. Speaker, to roll up our sleeves and let’s work on the various chapters. It will make you work better for all the Yukon people. Seriously.

We don’t have time tonight, but I believe that, in working with government, we are going to make some changes.

In closing, we had 100 years of developing relationships. Sometimes they were difficult, but the results show that we are all here together. We have worked hard to help us enable the people of Mayo and Yukon to work and live together to build a strong, certain social and economic future.

Once again, I would like to thank you all for coming out, and I wish you a safe journey home.

Mahsi.

Mrs. Gordon:   Mr. Speaker, on a point of order.

Speaker:   I recognize the hon. former member.

Mrs. Gordon:   May I please address the Council?

Speaker:   Please. It would be our pleasure.

Mrs. Gordon:   It makes me very happy to be able to speak to all today. It is exactly 58 years ago today that I arrived in Mayo, and on the 13^th of June, there was a federal election. There were 93 people on the voters list in Mayo. There were 12 on the voters list at Keno. There was only one person at Elsa. That was Alec Berry. He was also our MLA for a number of years.

Through the years, I have seen a lot of changes. After all, that has been 58 years.

We came to Mayo, my husband and me and our daughter, so she could go to school. She gets her old-age pension this year, and she is in the audience.

It gives me pleasure to thank you, Mr. Speaker; you, Mr. Fentie, as our Premier; Mr. Hardy as leader of the official opposition; our local member, Eric Fairclough, and to welcome you and all the other members of Council here. I pay tribute to you all, and I am grateful that you were able to accept the invitation to come to Mayo.

I am speaking extemporaneously; these are my notes. I didn’t expect this, but in a way, I am a political person. If anything comes up, I have to talk. I can’t keep my big mouth shut.

I want to pay tribute to some of our past members who are no longer with us in this world. E.J. Corp, who was a member for many, many years in Mayo when it was a three-man council. He lived in Keno. Alex Smith. He was a fighter. I am not sure whether he is still living. The last I heard he was in Osoyoos, B.C. Alec Berry, as I mentioned, was our member. He used to come to town from Elsa when he was watchman there with his big dog, Rip, pulling him on skis.

One of the things I would like to say, that I have emphasized for years, is the fact that the Na Cho Nyäk Dun people and the community of Mayo have been the most integrated community in this territory for an awful lot of years. We have worked together, and we are friends and we still work together.

One of the things I would like to say, and it is a little bit of patting myself on the back, but you made a lot of mention of the highway sign, the hottest and coldest spot in the territory. I designed it.

But would you like to know why? Every winter, CBC would invariably say, "Coldest place in Canada — Mayo, Yukon", and that made me a little angry, because I knew that it got damn hot too. So I did a little research and the result was the sign.

I also had a little hand in making "Heart of the Yukon" our trademark.

I also would like to say that I broke trail for the ladies in Council.

Thank you.

Mahsi' cho.

Speaker:   At this time, I will call the House back to order.

Hon. Mr. Jenkins:   Mr. Speaker, I move:

THAT this House, at its rising, do stand adjourned until it appears to the satisfaction of the Speaker, after consultation with the Premier, that the public interest requires that the House shall meet;

THAT the Speaker give notice that he is so satisfied, and thereupon the House shall meet at the time stated in such notice and shall transact its business as if it had been duly adjourned to that time; and

THAT, if the Speaker is unable to act owing to illness or other causes, the Deputy Speaker shall act in his stead for the purpose of this Order.

Speaker:   You have heard the motion. Are you prepared for the question?

Hon. Mr. Jenkins:   I move that the House do now adjourn.

Speaker:   It has been moved by the hon. government House leader that the House do now adjourn.