Mr. Speaker, it is with great pride and humility that I stand and pay tribute to the wisdom, courage, and determination of the Wet'suwet'en and Gitxsan leaders of northern British Columbia.
Today, marks the 20th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision known as Delgamuukw-Gisday’wa. After generations of struggle, these elders stood in our highest court and won not only a victory for their nations but also for first nations across Canada by proving that oral history must have equal standing in our courts. Delgamuukw tore down a stone from the wall of legal and colonial oppression. That day 20 years ago did not only change the history of Canada, it changed our very idea of history. It has been said that the arc of the moral universe is long but bends toward justice. While the history of the federal government with respect to this land's first peoples is filled with shame, the struggle for justice is of a far greater power.
Today, we honour the Wet'suwet'en and Gitxsan elders for their determination in opening all our eyes to a more just and beautiful country.