Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Across our small communities, our language use is declining at a scary pace. That means language revitalization is a tricky business. That means the government is aware that the consequences of inaction will be dire or even irreversible.

The government recently transferred the bulk of this responsibility to Aboriginal governments. The rationale behind the decisions is that Aboriginal governments are the experts on their own languages. For my part, I am pleased to see Aboriginal governments being entrusted with the task.

When the Dehcho First Nations met to discuss how to...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to welcome everybody to the gallery here, at least from the public, but in particular I wanted to acknowledge the presence of a constituent of mine from Kakisa. I rarely ever see visitors from my constituency, but I’m extremely proud to recognize Ruby Landry, a constituent and a leader from Kakisa as well. I understand she is up in the gallery. Mahsi.

It’s pretty clear that the Premier in his opening statement said that my people are from the Deh Cho. The Premier is from Fort Providence. The Premier is a Metis from Fort Providence. He has an opportunity to help advance the Dehcho Dene and Metis of Fort Providence and the Dehcho First Nations to come to an agreement. At the same time, I think this negotiation is sliding perilously into positional negotiations for both sides to become more entrenched and no movement will happen and people will walk away. I don’t want to see that. I’m sure the Premier does not want to see that as well. The...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. I’ve on occasion made statements regarding the Dehcho Process. I support the Dehcho Process mainly because I’m from the Deh Cho and I’d like to see it succeed, and at some point it will have a settled agreement between the Dehcho First Nations, Canada and the GNWT. Some people might be familiar that the negotiations have, in one perspective, advanced since 1921. There are people that believe negotiations just started recently. But what is important is that there used to be a spirit of being flexible and open, at the same time respecting the differences of, perhaps...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. We have talked a lot about a government that is fair and open and accountable. That is how we Regular MLAs try to conduct ourselves, very strongly with these principles. I expect no less of Cabinet Members and every department they lead. It might be even more important for them because they ultimately manage the money and most of the land.

The latter fact and the power that goes with it should not get in the way of having fair negotiations with First Nations over land and self-government, but I believe that is happening. Today I call on the Premier to correct it. The state...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Just an observation from being part of leadership and negotiations for some time. When two leaders meet, what happens is that there is a spirit and intent, and that’s the spirit of the treaties that have been negotiated for a long time, and it’s based on honesty and integrity. When two leaders meet, they make a pact and an understanding, and when they walk away they ask their staff to implement it, and sometimes the staff or the department doesn’t believe in those decisions, and I think that’s the problem.

Will the Premier revisit his government’s strategy with a view to...

Why, in the Premier’s opinion, shouldn’t the Deh Cho land quantum be at least equal to the Tlicho’s adjustment for population?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today we’re debating a motion requesting that the government introduce legislation that would establish an ombudsman in the Northwest Territories. In June 2014, the Standing Committee on Government Operations tabled a special report on the need for an ombudsman. As the committee chair, it is appropriate for me to provide some opening remarks on this motion.

I’ll begin by describing what an ombudsman is and does. The term “ombudsman” is a fancy term for a citizens’ defender, someone who is a voice for the people and a peacemaker. An ombudsman assists people, free of...

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [Translation] Did you know a Dene man passed away suddenly on Sunday, November 2nd? He was born and raised in the Hay River area. “Watch, learn and teach” was his motto. He was taught traditional survival skills by observing, getting involved and practicing bush skills from the time he was 10 years old

He came from a family of 17. He often talked about how his dad made him a boat and bought him two hunting guns when he was 15 years old. He lived outdoors all the time, working, hunting and trapping. Jim believed that if you watched and listened to your elders, you would live...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. It’s important to note that this report that the Government Operations had produced was produced back in June and we made it available to the public on the website. It has been five months since it sat in the public domain for the people to contemplate the next steps that we are in right now.

Just an indication of the next steps, it’s the understanding of this side that through the legislative process there is going to be a legislative proposal at the same time there is going to be a level of public consultation to determine the scope of the office of the ombudsman in...