Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Speaker, some of the federal government’s responsibilities in jurisdictions do not include the Metis people, such as the University and College Entrance Program.

Is the Government of the Northwest Territories working with the federal government to ensure that the Metis are treated just as the Inuvialuit, Inuit or the First Nations people?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today celebrates the strength of the Metis people. Despite the presence of the colonial powers, the churches, governments and residential schools, the Sahtu Metis have stood strong and have stood for their rights. My questions today are for the Minister of Aboriginal and Intergovernmental Affairs.

Can the Premier describe this government’s efforts to further strengthen Metis economic development and participation in major development projects?

Thank you, Madam Chair. If I can just get one question in, if the Minister would provide me some detail on. Hard copy would be fine. I wanted to ask about the gross profits from the sale of the liquor, on page 176. It’s a good business. I wanted to ask, from this number here, have they seen an increase again in the Sahtu region with the gross sale? That’s the only question I have.

That’s okay. I’ve got to think this over here and I’ve got to read the Hansard tomorrow and I’ll have to come back to this maybe through another forum.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Welcome, Minister and staff. I’d like to offer my comments to the Finance department.

Mr. Chair, the comments I want to offer have to do with the points here that look at the resource revenue to Aboriginal governments. Just for clarification, maybe when the Minister responds, are these the Aboriginal governments that have signed on to devolution? I know some haven’t yet come to the point of signing on to devolution. I know the money here, 25 percent is targeted to the Aboriginal governments. So, just more of a clarification.

The $2 million that is established to remediate...

Certainly, Mr. Speaker. There are also the Aboriginal First Nations bands that are in negotiations, but certainly under the federal jurisdictions they certainly get more than $20,000 a year to operate their core funding. I’m trying to see where the equalization of the Metis people to have the same type of treatment by the federal government while our government is doing the best it can with the amount of money that we have.

Where is this Cabinet in regard to seeing what the federal Minister has to say about raising the level of equalization to the Metis people as in the Constitution? Is there a...

For these 10 Metis organizations, this $20,000 for core funding, that’s a big piece of work that the organizations do. Does our government really believe that the Metis could operate on core funding of $20,000? Let it be known that the cost of operating in the Northwest Territories is astronomical. Is that out of the goodness of the heart of the GNWT, because I surely see a lacking of the federal government involvement in this type of funding.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Premier report back to the House as to the specific issues that the Premier is going to raise with the Minister and report on an action plan, if there is one that is being developed, between the Minister and the Premier on Metis rights in the Northwest Territories?

One of the priorities of the Metis National Council is to develop the common standards for Metis Nation registers.

In his dialogue with the Harper government, has this government played a role in developing a common standards for Metis national registries?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. On the third Monday in February, which is today, the province of Manitoba celebrates Louis Riel Day. I’d also like to take the opportunity today to mention the contribution of the Metis people in my region.

Mr. Speaker, a little history: Louis Riel was born in 1844, the eldest son of a prominent Metis family based in St. Boniface, Winnipeg’s French quarter. When Riel’s people, the Red River Metis’ way of life was threatened in Canada’s plans to annex Hudson Bay’s land, he acted with strength. He formed a resistance group. He stopped the surveyors from encroaching onto...