Mr. Speaker, on April 1, 1999 the long-awaited ceremonies took place for the new Nunavut territory and in Iqaluit the Nunavut flag, the coat of arms and the legislature mace were revealed to a worldwide audience.
I would like to congratulate and thank all those who participated in the design and creation process of these items. Elders were consulted by the artists with the result that Inuit culture was incorporated into the design.
The Inuit culture was also very evident in the first sitting of the legislative assembly. The Inuktitut language was used in all aspects of the celebrations and was a welcome change.
The evening gala revealed the tremendous musical and acting talent of the north. Overall, the show was fabulous.
Thank you, Canada, for celebrating with us.