Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I listened with interest to the Minister of Human Resources, Glen Abernethy, when he talked about the soon-to-be launched Aboriginal Cultural Awareness Training Program aimed at enhancing and promoting the Aboriginal culture of understanding. I want to ask the Minister, in light of what I said in my Member’s statement about Deline hosting a huge hand games tournament, with something like that, is the Minister looking at some type of cultural training program where we can fully immerse in the training and culture and understanding of Aboriginal people at their best. Is...

The Minister pinpointed an issue with me that I would certainly like to have some access to once it’s vetted through the proper channels. That’s the study of the potential impacts of the Canol Trail in our region. I’d like to have a look at that along with other leaders in the Sahtu and Members from this side. Would he be able to have something ready for us in a timely manner once the Executive Council takes a look at it and comes over to our side with it?

I thank the Premier for noting that it is very true that communities like Sachs Harbour where, my friend Mr. Beaulieu would say, the employment rate, not the unemployment rate, the employment, because only so many people can work in the small communities that would have a job that would provide for them.

I want to ask the Premier, is the government looking at the Social Assistance Program where it would up the cost to help them with the cost of living.

About a week ago, I spoke about a coffee can I bought in Norman Wells. I bought one can there. Here, I can buy three cans of coffee, the same type. That’s what I’m asking, the cost of living in that specific area in those communities that I named. Is that something that the government is looking at, where those prices would be comparable such as in larger centres like Yellowknife, where costs are pretty high up in the small communities at the store for food?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On page 3 of 3 of the Minister’s statement he said, “so far have been in the right direction and that we are a national leader and role model in advancing diversity in our workplace.” I’m with the Minister on that. I want to ask the Minister how I can support him. Can he write some kind of directive or initiative that would support cultural awareness, such as participating in regional hand games, when the opportunity is available to our workers.

I wanted to ask the Minister to be open and flexible, because what better way to learn about the Aboriginal people than to get into them, play the hand games with them, understand the culture. Even learn a few hand signals, which I really can’t say in the House here. I think that’s the most opportune time to have employees come and sit and eat, and dance and learn the hand games of the Aboriginal people. Would the Minister look at something like that to fully understand the Aboriginal people at their best?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This coming weekend the Sahtu will be rocking and rolling, shaking and baking. This weekend the Sahtu, along with other regions such as the Tlicho, South Slave, Deh Cho, Akaitcho, even as far as Sachs Harbour are starting to learn and participate in traditional hand games. The Sahtu is holding a $60,000 men’s hand games tournament. There are people from Alberta, Yukon and the Northwest Territories making their way through the Mackenzie Valley winter road to go to Deline.

Last year in the Sahtu, Deline held this event and it was a success. There were many people who came...

The Minister is very accurate in regard to the potential in the Sahtu and the Canol Trail play of the exploration of talking to people who have worked or are working in those areas, the oil companies, the Minister himself has talked to some pretty well-informed people who are looking at the Canol Trail play, and I think we started to realize that the potential that he’s saying.

My point is that I appreciate it on behalf of the Sahtu for the readiness session, because that was very timely. That talks about leadership from the department, we look forward to those types of discussions and more...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I wanted to ask the Minister, regarding this, if he could do a very brief summary as to how his department has responded to this happening up in the Sahtu with regard to the oil and gas exploration, human resources capacity-wise and other socio-economic or straight economic plans for the upcoming years of the oil and gas exploration.

Mr. Speaker, the cost of living, as the Premier has indicated, increases when you go further and further away from Yellowknife. Is that cost sufficient enough for people in Sachs Harbour or Colville Lake or Lutselk’e or Gameti or Trout Lake where you know that they will be able to provide their family of four, five or six in a good manner that is equivalent to living in Yellowknife?