Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] When we talk about addiction, there are a lot of different issues surrounding that. A lot of community members are on a healing path, and sometimes they go through difficult issues with dealing with their wellness.

Mr. Speaker, we know that there is a 28-day program, and that does not mark the end of the journey for such people. It's just the beginning. They are also having issues with an after-care program. Once they return, they do not have that support system in the community. We have a lot of elders who can help the community. Maybe we need to take a look at...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I would like to talk about justice. I want to say a few words regarding that. [Translation ends] Canada's Office of the Correctional Inspector says that Canada's correctional system has reached an all-time low for the Indigenous population. Comprising barely a twentieth of the general population, Indigenous people now account for almost a third of federal inmates. That is an incarceration rate six times that of mainstream Canada.

In the Northwest Territories, the rates of imprisonment of Indigenous persons are equally troubling: 83 percent. Mr. Speaker, 83...

Masi, Mr. Speaker. In light of the alarming rates of incarceration that Indigenous people face in the Northwest Territories, I submit the following written questions to the Minister of Justice:

In the past 10 years, what programs and initiatives has the territorial government launched to keep Indigenous people out of jail, and what do the evaluations of those various programs and initiatives conclude about effectiveness of each?

What proportion of territorial prison staff are Indigenous, broken down by employment category, especially management, program delivery, and guards?

What proportion of...

Just reflecting on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's 94 recommendations, obviously, there is one recommendation that I highlighted as part of my Member's statement. Are there sufficient and stable funds within the Department of Justice to implement and evaluate these measures to provide realistic alternatives to imprisonment for Aboriginal offenders?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] I spoke earlier on correction, Department of Justice, and I mentioned that the majority of incarcerated people are Dene people. I would like to ask a question regarding that. [End of translation] The Inspector of Corrections calls it a national travesty. I would like to ask the following question to the Minister of Justice: more specifically, how is our correctional system helping Indigenous inmates to reduce their chances of reoffending once they leave the prison system? Masi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. I wish to table the following two documents. The first is the "Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action," and the second document is the "United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples." These should be our guiding principles as we move forward as a territorial government. Masi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker. Again, reflecting back on the TRC recommendations, it talks about reducing the systematic discrimination. Looking into the future, what are the Minister's plans to reduce the systematic discrimination that Indigenous people experience in our judicial system or justice system and in our corrections system?

I am just curious about the priorities of this government. What priority has this Minister given to the problem of the over-representation of Indigenous people in our corrections system?

Masi, Mr. Speaker. The teachers recognized today all have a unique skill set: their language. Their skills cannot be imported from the South. Many of these teachers will be retiring in the near future, and unfortunately, there are fewer and fewer fluent speakers to take their spots.

Mr. Speaker, the first question is to the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. How does the department plan to support schools in language programming as these teachers retire? Masi.

Masi, Mr. Speaker.

[Translation] Mr. Speaker, February is Indigenous Languages month. The NWT is unique in that we have 11 official languages – nine of which are Indigenous. I am proud to be a fluent speaker of one of these languages.

Today I would like to acknowledge the Indigenous language teachers in our communities. In the Tlicho region there are currently 17 Tlicho language teachers in our schools with a wealth of knowledge and experience. According the TCSA,

In WhaTi: Marie Nitsiza, 23 years teaching; Diane Romie, 22 years as a Tlicho language specialist.

In Wekweeti: Ceci Judas, 6...