Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Madam Chair. The people in the small communities and the communities around here can surgically skin a moose pretty well. We know how, we have the creative initiatives and, as Mr. Roland said, they want to surgically look at the budget here. Giving the people in our regions some flexibility in terms of looking at the fiscal realities in our communities, we could do some good work in terms of how to save money, how to share cost money, and how to put money to good use. I think there could be some incentives for communities to go through that exercise. I think we are big enough...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Minister. In light of the Sahtu Dene/Metis land claim agreement, we had a good meeting this morning with regard to the Aboriginal Summit and the Minister. I've been hearing that we need to work together in partnership, and I want to support the government in supporting our land claim groups; that we can jointly pursue the federal government in terms of its obligations. My question to the Minister is really that this government needs to make it a priority to fulfill its obligations under the land claim agreements and how do we demonstrate this together...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A lot of my people in the riding of Sahtu are directly impacted by the Sahtu Dene/Metis land claim agreement. They had high hopes and they still have high hopes of some security in this agreement to fulfill our rightful place in the Sahtu region and in shaping this great territory of the Northwest Territories in Canada. I want to ask the Minister would he consider putting in place a review process with the land claim groups to address and to respond to outstanding implementation obligations of this government? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. A few weeks ago we all heard the Auditor General tell us that the Department of Indian and Northern Affairs needs to do a better job implementing the land claim agreements to reflect the spirit of those documents. Mr. Speaker, we like to criticize Ottawa now and then, but in this case maybe we should invite the Auditor General to the Northwest Territories, too. The GNWT also needs to improve how they admit the land claim obligations.

The Inuvialuit final agreement was signed in 1984. The Gwich’in agreement was signed in 1992. The Sahtu agreement was signed in 1993. We...

Thank you, Madam Chair. I hear from my honourable Members that you go through the Chair, so I'll say it again, Mr. Roland…

---Laughter

Excuse me. Sorry about that. I have a question for the Minister, Madam Chair. Like my honourable colleague from Nahendeh, I am also new at this process here and sometimes it seems like it's my first day in school here in front of the principal. However, I am going to continue on with the process and just take the words from the Minister of Indian Affairs that I'm in a learning experience, a learning process. So I'm going to take his advice and his words...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister commit to assist in the regional land claims, with both financial and logistical support, to develop action plans to prioritize the implementation of the chapters of the agreement that are urgently needed to ensure that we can manage and take care of our lands in the face of a major development such as the Mackenzie gas pipeline to be delivered to the federal government?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs. It has been 10 years since the Sahtu Dene/Metis land claim agreements were signed, and still the Government of the Northwest Territories has not yet lived up to its obligations, such as the amendment to the Wildlife Act and the Forest Management Act. I would like to ask the Minister how does he plan to ensure that the Sahtu beneficiaries receive these obligations? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Premier agree to put in place a joint committee with the lead Minister on the governance side and participation from regular Members to address and respond to issues related to the Mackenzie Valley gas pipeline?

Thank you. Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize my constituency assistant from Deline, and John Kenny, sub-chief, wise man and he is helping out with my office this week. Also to Gina Dolphus from Deline who is president of the Native Women’s Association. Fred Rabesca who is with Henry's group there, and Barry Harley who is the superintendent of MACA and Tony Grandjambe from Norman Wells. These are the guests from the Sahtu. Mahsi.

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Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Further, would the Premier commit to assist, in terms of both financial and logistical support of local and regional aboriginal governments, to develop positions to negotiate things such as access and benefits agreements, protected areas, social impact responses and so forth? We really need help in our region with regard to this issue, Mr. Speaker.