Mr. Speaker, as the Bloc critic on Indian affairs, I wish to express our most sincere condolences to the family and friends of James Bourque, who passed away last Saturday in Ottawa at the age of 60.
Mr. Bourque was very active in native circles. His political career started very early. At the age of 18, he became president of the hunting and fishing club in Fort Chipewyan, Alberta. He then served as president of the Metis Association of the Northwest Territories, as Deputy Minister of Natural Resources for the Government of the Northwest Territories, and as chairman of the Northwest Territories' Commission for Constitutional Development.
In 1984, he founded the Fur Institute of Canada where he served as chairman for four years. Mr. Bourque also performed important functions within the native community of the Northwest Territories.
One of his friends said: "Jim often expressed that his role as an elder was to keep cultural fires burning bright". I think that statement summarizes this person well. Aboriginal peoples and environmentalists of Canada lose a great friend.