Statements in Debates
I didn’t highlight just education parties. There have been various organizations that are involved in the discussion right at the start of the ASA forum that we initiated in the Sahtu region in September until just last week. Those key areas of early childhood development, the discussion from the parties, such as my department, is education and early childhood, and also school services. Also the grandmothers, the parents that are actively involved in education matters. Some have retired but came back to lend their support to provide services as much as they can towards this product that’s...
Those different contribution agreements we have conducted in the past with the First Nations community organizations. We can look at it as a potential to explore those areas and see what can come out of that or involve the Member in the discussion, as well.
I need to work with the Member on the specific item that he’s referring to and defining the flexibility. We do have staff at the community level that work closely with the regional office, and also from regional office to headquarter office. We can provide those valuable services to the community through that venue.
When we talk about it at the community level, if we don’t have people present, then how can we deliver that program effectively? Those are areas that we need to seriously look at and how can we deliver those in a timely manner and efficiently. I will continue to work with the...
I’ll definitely pursue that. Whatever we do at this venue is interdepartmental. There is a lot of discussion on programming, working with the Yellowknife committee, the social committee. I will be working with my colleagues as we move forward on this particular important piece of work.
Mahsi. Yes, it’s been two years that we’ve been pursuing this Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative since the Member raised this issue. We know that it’s important, and it’s not just the Member, all of the Members have been raising the issues about the success of our students, and that’s the very reason why we’re here, Mr. Speaker. We’ve visited all regions, and we’re finalizing the package, and we will be meeting in a couple of weeks for the final go-round with the leadership to say this is what we’ve heard, this is what we want delivered, what do you think. That is key messaging that’s...
Mahsi. That’s the very reason why we’re doing the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative forums in all regions. The Beaufort-Delta was, again, very successful, one of the successful outcomes. We had all of the leadership involved, the educators, the parents, even the youth to talk about their experience. They talk about what they want to be when they graduate and so forth, and that the leadership, the DEA, the chairpersons were there discussing the importance of supporting our students and developing plans of action. That’s what is going to be before this House and I’m looking forward to...
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I did already commit to meeting with the committee and we can meet whenever the committee is available to discuss the ASA, and also the Early Childhood Development Framework integration, and the dates and so forth. I’ve committed to meeting with the committee. Mahsi.
Those parties that the Member highlighted will definitely be involved with the Early Childhood Development Framework. Their input will be valuable. The Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative does highlight the early childhood and also child care area that consists in the schools and also at home, too, where parents, again, grandparents, they were the ones who forced that upon us to say we need to focus on those individuals that are not born yet, that are in the womb, and talk to the child. That is advice that we are receiving from the communities, from the regions. We’ll continue to push...
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Clearly, one of the four key initiatives that we’ve been delivering through the Aboriginal Student Achievement Initiative is early childhood and child care. So those are the areas that we’ve been tackling at the community level. It does consist of a variety of parties, such as the IRC, Dene Nation, the NWT Metis Nation, Native Women’s Association, NWTTA, Literacy Council, Aurora College, superintendents, DEC, DEAs, our department, early childhood and school services, and the Early Childhood Development Framework is coming, but the ASA, the Aboriginal Student Achievement...
In Lutselk’e we have a dedicated half-time position client services officer. This particular position deals with various cases on the client files. Adding more duty to that individual’s duties may be a challenge to some degree. Another area we can look at is the regional staff being visible in the community as much as possible. They are responsible for Lutselk’e and Fort Res. I can look at that angle, how we can deliver with the resources we have from the regional perspective into the community. I, again, will work closely with the Member on this.