Herbert Nakimayak

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week I spoke about advancements in the development of a new Arctic and Northern Policy Framework and the role that the GNWT and northern Indigenous governments will need to play in making this framework a reality.

Arctic people want to have a seat at the table. We want to see capacity-building and the application of traditional knowledge. We want to see our government, the GNWT, guiding the federal government in the right direction, Mr. Speaker.

It is well known that other circumpolar countries, like Russia, Finland, and other Scandinavian countries...

I appreciate the response from the Premier. For many years the GNWT has maintained a policy on the application of traditional knowledge in the planning and delivery of its programs and services. My question is: can the Premier give us some background on how this policy is applied in the GNWT's work on Arctic sovereignty and policy planning?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, my statement was on Arctic sovereignty, and I have questions for the Premier. Mr. Speaker, as I said in my Member's statement, I am concerned that the Canadian Arctic Policy is dragging and that it may have negative effects on our Arctic regions. Apart from the engagement with the federal government, Mr. Speaker, what government partners in Canada and abroad does the GNWT work with to advance its Arctic Policy positions? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier, I made my Member's statement on Dawn Anderson, our newest Senator, and I would like to welcome Dawn to the Legislative Assembly. Mr. Speaker, Dawn has probably sat in here with the Department of Justice and other departments, and I would like to commend her for the hard work that she does across the territory and across Canada now. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Senator Margaret Dawn Anderson is an lnuvialuk who was raised in Tuktoyaktuk, Northwest Territories. She is the daughter of Ms. Sarah Anderson. She holds a bachelor's degree in child and youth care with distinction from the University of Victoria, where she is currently completing her master's in Indigenous governance. Senator Anderson worked with the Government of Northwest Territories for 22 years with the Department of Health & Social Services and the Department of Justice.

Mr. Speaker, before returning to school, Ms. Anderson served in various roles...

I appreciate the response from the Minister. It seems like MACA is doing a good job in including the communities. Mr. Speaker, leading after that question, my question to the Minister is: how will MACA incorporate Indigenous knowledge into their local, regional, and territorial emergency planning?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I have questions for the Minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. Mr. Speaker, Paulatuk and Sachs Harbour are ideal locations to monitor winter storms in the High Arctic. Another roof blew apart during this last storm in Paulatuk as the winds reached 140 kilometres.

Mr. Speaker, my first question to the Minister is: how often are community emergency plans exercised and updated across the territory, mainly those in the Barren Lands? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Mr. Speaker, most recently, Senator Anderson worked for the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation in Inuvik as she prepared for her defence on her community governance project. In this role, she participated in Inuvialuit self-government negotiations between the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Government of the Northwest Territories and also the Government of Canada.

Mr. Speaker, Senator Anderson is a two-time recipient of the territorial Premier's Award for Excellence in her leadership and commitment to improving the lives of Northerners in both the individual and team category. She is a...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That almost answered my last question here. Mr. Speaker, we sometimes see climate change only in the spring and the summer months, during the melt and the thaw, and sometimes when the water levels rise along the Mackenzie River or the Arctic Ocean or other lakes across the territory, but we need to think about the winter, as well, and the large storms that are coming.

I will ask this question anyways, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, will the Minister consider Nunakput communities that face extreme winds during the winter months to access disaster mitigation funding to protect...

I appreciate the response from the Minister. Mr. Speaker, I strongly believe that we, as an Assembly, should be seeking disaster mitigation funding to help homeowners and the hamlets across the territory to prepare, as weather storms are becoming more extreme across the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, which impacts day-to-day operations and our infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, my question to the Minister is: how do you plan on building resiliency in communities that face such climate change effects as the number of winter storms increase in the High Arctic?