Mr. Speaker, tomorrow Canada will welcome the start of the United Nations International Decade of the World's Indigenous People.
The goal of the decade is to strengthen international co-operation for the solution of problems faced by indigenous people around the world. Canada fully supports this goal and the theme of the decade: "Indigenous People: Partnership in Action".
The Department of Indian Affairs and Northern Development is co-ordinating the federal government's domestic efforts to mark this decade. Preliminary discussions have been held with aboriginal groups to obtain their views. A national conference is being organized for early in 1995 to set out Canada's preliminary action plan for the decade.
We look forward to the development of this plan as well as the development by the United Nations of a comprehensive world program of action.
I encourage everyone to support the goals of this important decade.