Norman Yakeleya

For the last 10 years, I’ve been getting tips, reports, as to the transfer of the Canol Heritage Trail, the sites and reports from the federal government. Our government has been hesitant and reluctant to take over full ownership until all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed on this issue. With regard to the park they built, there are some areas that are not contaminated. Some areas are pretty well as natural as can be since the creation of this world.

Are there things in the plan that would help the young people as to what we can do to improve the safety of the hiking trail for other hikers...

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mrs. Patricia Modeste from Deline, who was chosen for the 2014 Wise Woman Award for the Sahtu.

Mrs. Modest is known for her kind heart and dedication towards helping our community. She is a well-known lady who likes to laugh and get things done when needed. She deserves this award, as do the other recipients.

On behalf of the Sahtu region, I congratulate Patricia and her family in Deline and to keep up the great work you’re doing for your community and people and remember to rest too. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you. That’s good news for us and I appreciate that. Certainly, I know that will be welcome news to people in the communities who are negotiating their own form of government. It’s a big thing and that’s good for this type of provision. Again, I wanted just to say congratulations and nothing is easy that’s really good for us. Negotiations of putting this type or form of government partnership together enacted into legislation, we never think this would happen. We’re moving forward and we’re moving in a way that is new. It’s new for us. I just wanted to make that comment. That’s all I have...

Just witnessing the Second Annual Traditional Aboriginal Games Championships over the weekend at William Mac School, I could see these young students with gleam in their eyes with all the excitement.

I would ask the Minister, when he is meeting or talking with his colleagues from the Yukon government, is that something that will come to this Legislative Assembly for some discussion on this side as to possibly looking at the concept of a centre for excellence for our northern athletes?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I spoke about the high quality of athletes in the Northwest Territories and having a program that would be something like a TEST program. I want to ask the Minister of MACA, in his role as the Minister of Sport and Youth, is it something that has been talked about in senior level of government? Has something like a TEST program been talked about where we could begin training some of the younger children who have the calibre to go to the Olympics and other world champion games?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This is the beginning of planting the seed, so I look at that as the first process, is get the seed in the ground and start developing a vision for our athletes in the future. I’m not too sure the time frame of when this discussion will come to our side; hopefully, it will be done within the life of this government.

Can the Minister then sort of give some assurance that it will happen soon so we can have some discussion and start working on it?

Mr. Speaker, my colleague Mr. Bouchard talked about the athletes from his riding attending the Arctic Winter Games, and certainly many athletes across the Northwest Territories will be there next week. Also, over the weekend we had the Second Annual Traditional Aboriginal Games Championships and I’m very happy to know, from speaking there to the young athletes, that Mr. McLeod was there to show support and people were quite happy that he was there to show support.

I’m asking if there is any type of discussion, with all the other support he has given to the athletes, if there’s any type of...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This afternoon I want to talk about an idea, a concept that was once in the Northwest Territories.

Some time ago up in Inuvik, they had the ski program, the TEST program. This program was sponsored to develop young northern skiers. This program was so successful that it produced some high quality athletes, athletes that were so good that we sent them to the Olympics because they made the Olympic Team, Mr. Speaker. They did us proud. Certainly, today in the Northwest Territories, we just celebrated a couple of our northern athletes going to the Olympics.

I’d like to say...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. When we sought nomination and put our names forward for the MLA for our riding, we knew perfectly well, through speaking with our elders and people, they said, you’re working for us. That’s what your job is, to work for us and do the best you can in that term.

I sat down with many elders and they said, you, as an MLA, you’re like an arrowhead. The people are like that bow. Whatever issue we talk about, we’ll pull the bow and you shoot. Power to hang you and the arrowhead goes to that issue. Don’t be scared, because you’re the voice of the people. But if you speak for...

Thank you for the clarification. I’ll close the book on that now