Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the past few days I was in Deline and I was witness to the hand games that were played there, Mr. Speaker. This is the first annual traditional hand games that the Deline First Nation have hosted. There were 37 teams from the Yukon, Alberta and Northwest Territories in total.

Mr. Speaker, there were just over 260 to 280 hand game players. There’s about 40 hours of singing and drumming. The traditional hand games brought out a lot of excitement from the people in the tournament. People played all hours of the night.

I want to say that on behalf of the Sahtu region I...

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. One question. Can I ask the Minister for a list of the NGOs that are being considered for the contribution funding to stabilize their operations? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to ask the Premier regarding the Northern Leaders’ Forum Fund, $304,000. I am trying to see where I read about it. However, I’ll ask the Premier about that fund.

Thank you. Just on the environmental management, they had a close call during spring breakup in terms of the petroleum products fuel lines. Has that been rectified and are there other issues like that, that when the ice breaks up, the fuel lines are being monitored and there are safety mechanisms in place that we don’t have a fuel spill into the Mackenzie River?

There is a misunderstanding later, because they do not fully understand what they’re signing for. We need to make sure that the NWT Housing Corporation receives proper orientation to understanding their clientele.

In closing, the issue of bringing up the treaty will continue until it is clear what was meant when the government asked for our ‘X’. We were promised, as the saying goes, as long as the sun shines, the grass grows, and the river flows. This is a good treaty.

Yes, last comment, just on the technical support for Safe Drinking Water Initiative. Can the Minister just allude to the standards that we want to bring up in terms of the water for the Safe Drinking Water Initiative, the support for the municipalities that desperately do need the valuable support to make sure that our water is always at a standard, that we can assure our people that this is an issue that is being monitored throughout the year?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I represent the community that has the second highest percentage of households in core need. I often talk about health and transportation needs in my region. Today I will continue with housing needs in my region; housing and treaty rights, to be exact, through our ancestors.

People are looking to the intent and spirit of the treaty rights; treaty rights related to housing as explained by our elders whose parents and grandparents were encouraged to leave the land, move into town and live in homes that were built for them by government.

I heard from many of my constituents...

Thank you. I look forward to the report there. I also want to say that I’m not too sure if the Minister did... I think they had some technology that they’re using around the communities in terms of radar in terms of energy reports or assessment. I’m not too sure if they use that in the Sahtu on some of the buildings that possibly could use some attention in terms of energy efficiency in the facilities that we use.

I just wanted to be clear. I’m talking about DPW facility garage. I know you’re talking about the tank farm there. I just wanted to ask the Minister for clarification. I guess I’m talking about the DPW garage that’s there. There also is an old building that they’re using right now for storage in the tank farm right now. I know the Minister has written some correspondence and I appreciate it being put on the books for some work there.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to say to the Minister that people in my community that I reside in were happy that there were some discussions going on regarding the demolition of the Chief Albert Wright School. It’s been a situation that we finally have seen some resolution to it and I certainly support the department on this item in the budget here to see that we can finally move on it.

Also, the issue of the property of where the school is situated right now has a lot of interest by community members for an agreement that was possibly negotiated some time ago with the municipality, the Hamlet...