Herbert Nakimayak

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, 20 years ago the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples issued its report. One of its key findings and subsequent recommendations was that education on Indigenous history be recognized as essential to reconciliation.

That is still true, Mr. Speaker, and we still have a long way to go. I recently learned about an educational program that grew out of the findings of the Royal Commission, and it is one I would like to see more in the Northwest Territories communities. In the KAIROS Blanket Exercise, participants join in an interactive crash course on 500 years...

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, we travel around Canada and we work with other Indigenous governments in other provinces and territories, and sometimes the lack of knowledge for Northerners in residential schools, whether it be in provinces in southern Canada or in the North, are sometimes not recognized with Indigenous groups that have gone through this, and especially families. Mr. Speaker, my final question is: would the Minister consider engaging facilitators to lead this exercise for senior staff in his department and also the Government of the Northwest Territories to better...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about the KAIROS Blanket exercise and the importance of governance like ours at the Legislative Assembly and how important it is to understand the effects of residential schools, and my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Mr. Speaker, can the Minister describe the cultural awareness training that the new NWT teachers participated in, in 2017? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

That is good to see, that the Minister is quite involved, especially in the education system. Mr. Speaker, my second question for the Minister is: what role does a Minister see in teacher training and classroom curriculum for something like the KAIROS blanket exercise?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I don’t really have much to add. All I can say is that it makes good sense to line our future with our current environment. Our colleagues on both sides are strategizing their priorities. I think that’s what we need to focus on as we’re all each independent MLAs. We need to focus on the priorities in our region and capitalize on government to government relationships between the territorial government and Indigenous governments as well as the federal government. I think, in this day and age, the leadership is evolving. We need to work together to move forward to ensure...

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, this is not the first time that specific issues to the Northwest Territories have been affected through federal regulations. I think it is time for a Northwest Territories 101 to federal Ministers so that they can closely understand our unique needs. Mr. Speaker, my second question is: what is the GNWT doing to intervene on behalf of the Northern aviation industry?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, Northerners have long been frustrated with poorlydesigned laws and public policy made in southern Canada with no regard for the reality of life in the NWT. This is why the GNWT worked so hard to get a deal on devolution. It is too bad devolution did not include control of aviation. Maybe then northern airlines would not be worried about staying in business when proposed pilot fatigue regulatory changes are brought forward by Transport Canada.

Mr. Speaker, these controversial changes would put restraints on pilot flying time, such as capping shifts and...

It is good to see that the Minister is looking at this. Mr. Speaker, my final question is: will the Minister commit to speaking with his counterparts in the Yukon and Nunavut to urgently develop a Northern position on these proposed changes?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, I spoke about air transportation regulations, and my questions are for the Minister of Infrastructure. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: what is the GNWT's position on proposed federal regulatory air transport changes? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I appreciate the response. Mr. Speaker, has the Department of Infrastructure previously explored paving or chipsealing runways at one or more airports in the Nunakput region?