Norman Yakeleya

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?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions for the Premier and it has to do with the high cost of living in the Northwest Territories. In Sachs Harbour, Trout Lake, Colville Lake, Lutselk’e or Gameti, these communities are in remote isolation of the Northwest Territories. The cost of living is astronomical.

I want to ask the Premier, in his discussions with their federal counterparts, is the Government of the Northwest Territories looking at how we can reduce the cost of living in those small communities where there are high unemployment rates.

If young kids in Sachs Harbour can learn the Dene hand games, certainly we can look at some of our regions and the departments that we’re responsible for in the Tlicho, the Deh Cho, the Sahtu, even the Gwich’in coming to Tulita and taking that prize. I want to ask again the Minister, it would be good if we had a GNWT representative look at and understand the Dene culture, and one aspect is to see these magnificent hand games and really understand, okay, this is how the people celebrate life. I know it’s designed for some things, but I’m asking to leave some room for flexibility in the training...

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?