Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have two questions, but I will just forego one in the spirit of trying to meet at least a timely transfer of closure here as we move on. I refer to the term “culturally appropriate care.” What does that mean?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A few years ago the Department of Executive put together some pricing samples for basic goods across the Northwest Territories. A bag of flour, 2.5 kilograms, costs $4.15 in Yellowknife, $7.17 in Fort Simpson, $7.79 in Fort Good Hope, $8.25 in Inuvik and $8.94 in Tuk. I don’t know exactly how much flour costs in Fort Providence, but the good folks at the Bureau of Statistics tell us that our prices are at least 21 percent higher than Yellowknife’s.

If we’re going to make bannock, we need to mix the flour with lard and water, maybe some sugar. If lard costs $4 or $5 in...

Thank you, Madam Chair. The comments are something that I’ve reiterated before and I think it’s worth just noting at this point. I don’t really have any other concerns but this point that I wanted to make. Of course, it’s regarding the pending legislation on what’s coming down from the federal government and its implication in terms of our capacity to house people that are incarcerated, and whether that’s going to put a constraint on our resources as it is. Are there going to be efforts, maybe down the road, to look at a joint initiative with the federal government, in terms of trying to...

Would the Minister tell this House whether there is, perhaps, an effort to try to consider all options as we move towards a final agreement-in-principle? That the Minister would consider trying to exhaust all options, other than the discussions that are currently being undertaken to ensure that everyone is on side before this and the agreement-in-principle are concluded on devolution. Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Speaker. My questions today are to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, in terms of the…(inaudible)…towards a Devolution Final Agreement-in-Principle. My question is to the Minister. Can he provide us an update in terms of the progress of trying to bring other Aboriginal groups on stream? I know there have been efforts to try and engage with discussions with groups. Can he provide us an update? Mahsi.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Just some comments that I kind of find myself reiterating, but it’s part of the process. I just wanted to speak in general terms on some of the aspirations of the communities that I represent; namely, the reserve, Kakisa and Fort Providence and, of course, Enterprise.

I think the communities there are very interested in trying to be more independent and trying to ensure that they provide the services to their residents that make their homes in those communities and they want to raise their children as well. So they aspire to trying to provide the services that other...

I’d like to thank the Premier for his update. My question is, in the fall we had a very goodwill attitude, good spirited discussion with the Aboriginal groups in Detah. I wanted to know if the Minister would build upon that positive relationship and perhaps consider a follow-up forum to ensure that we are fully engaged with all Aboriginal groups in the Northwest Territories. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Madam Speaker. Summer assemblies have been an important part of Aboriginal cultures for generations. They come from the time when our people lived off the land, following the resources they needed to sustain their families. They travelled seasonally and lived in small family-based communities. Major regional decisions were made at large gatherings that happened at least once a year and most often in the summer.

This tradition continues today in all our regions. As we look forward to the summer, we look forward to the summer assemblies. They involve First Nation members of all ages and...

Thank you, Madam Speaker. What steps would the department entertain to ensure that the success of the PAS initiative for the Ka’a’gee Tu First Nation is concluded? Mahsi.

Madam Speaker, what is the position of the GNWT in terms of selecting areas for candidate areas for PAS initiatives at the local level? Mahsi.