Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my final question is, there continue to be some anxiety concerning the fate of the Aboriginal Head Start program in light of the roll into the junior kindergarten. Has the Minister engaged his federal colleague who is mandated to oversee the Aboriginal Head Start programs here in the NWT and also the funding in terms of committing the dollars to these eight sites in the NWT? Has the Minister engaged his federal colleague to see if, you know, the two programs could exist in parallel to each other? Mahsi.

I'd like to thank the Minister for his reply. How is the department working to address the questions and concerns of parents and educators who do not wish to change from the Aboriginal Head Start program to junior kindergarten?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, would like to recognize a few visitors in the gallery. One of them is Trisha Landry, my constituency assistant and also chaperone extraordinaire, who is here to accompany two students who are pages from Detah, and also the students from the Northern People for Northern Education program who are here in terms of their protests against the cuts to their program. Also  I saw her earlier; I don't know if she is still in the House  Laura Boileau from the New Day program. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I am continuing with my Member's statement from yesterday. I want to talk to you about the Aboriginal Head Start program.

There has been a lot of information flying around the House, so let me give you a quick refresher. Aboriginal Head Start, or AHS, is a federally funded program with the mandate to serve preschoolage Aboriginal children. It was founded in the belief that children are a gift from the creator, who have the right to live proudly as Aboriginal people in the land of their ancestors. In 1995... [English translation not provided.]

Mr. Speaker, how does this...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. No further questions.

This is my final question: how is the department ensuring that boards, education councils and education authorities are being kept up-to-date with all the recent changes so that these organizations can keep parents up-to-date?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, what we've been seeing for some time is a major initiative from the Department of Education, Culture and Employment in terms of the roll-out of the junior kindergarten initiative. I'm seeking some clarity and trying to give an opportunity to the Minister to provide some answers that could be very resolute, and given the confidence that this is going to go forward despite the ongoing issues and concerns.

My first question is: can the Minister immediately follow up with the chief and council at the Hay River Reserve to make sure they are appropriately included...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided] As we know, some small communities already have [English translation not provided]. With current enrolment the people to teacher ratio is 13.3:1, but ECE intends to fund schools to a ratio of 12:1.

There are still several lingering issues, some of which have been brought up by my colleagues. I'll highlight three themes.

First, government-to-government relationships. When ECE moved to include JK students at Chief Sunrise School in the Hay River Reserve, the chief and council were not consulted. Later the Minister met with staff from the...

My second question is: what are the current pupil/teacher ratios at the Chief Sunrise and Deh Gah Schools?

Mahsi, colleagues. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There residents value the strong relationship between the Aboriginal Head Start program and their community. They don’t understand why ECE wouldn't want to build on that success.

I will speak more on Aboriginal Head Start tomorrow, Mr. Speaker. For now, let me say that people I have spoken with remain concerned that JK might work in regional centres, but not in our small communities and schools.

Confusion like we've seen in the House this week doesn't soothe those worries. It only muddies the waters and raises more questions. Until tomorrow, Mr. Speaker...