Debates of August 17, 2007 (day 12)

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I have one question or maybe two. It depends on how the Minister responds. I have a question for the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources around the implementation and the question on the traditional knowledge policy. I have written the Minister a letter. I asked the Minister if he would consider some options. I want to ask the Minister on the traditional knowledge policy how it is being monitored. Is it a policy that is being used by other departments in regards to this traditional knowledge policy?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod.

Return To Question 149-15(6): Traditional Knowledge Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Environment and Natural Resources delayed the department in ensuring that traditional knowledge is utilized in all the different departments in the government. It is something that we continually remind the Ministers and departments to ensure that that happens.

Our policy, I believe, is hitting the 10 year mark. We recently had some discussion over the whole policy and how effective it is, and whether it needs to be revamped, at a recent conference in the community of the Hay River Reserve. It is something that we are going to undertake to do, is revisit the policy and do some consultations with the community as well. It is still a valid document that can still work or we need to make some adjustments to it, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 149-15(6): Traditional Knowledge Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I am very interested in what the Minister said. It will be utilized in all departments of the Government of the Northwest Territories. It is hitting a 10 year mark. I am looking at how effective it is and look at some revisions based on the Hay River conference. Mr. Speaker, I have asked the Minister, would he look at the process of consultation in our communities? We have just come out of Kelly Lake in the Sahtu and TK workshop with the elders and it seems like we need to do some serious consultation with our people to get their knowledge implemented into this government in terms of the knowledge that they possess in our communities. Would the Minister get a commitment on some serious discussions with our people on this policy? This is their life. These are their thoughts here to go into operation of this government. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 149-15(6): Traditional Knowledge Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We would certainly commit to doing consultation with all of the different aboriginal governments in the Northwest Territories when we do a review. We would like to hear from the communities and from the different people in the community on how they feel this could be improved.

We have a number of programs or a number of initiatives that we could point to that show that we have a lot of success in this area. But, of course, there is always room for improvement. We would like to make sure that this program continues to grow and is a benefit to the community. So we will certainly undertake to talk to the people in the Member’s riding and all the other different ridings in the North.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 149-15(6): Traditional Knowledge Policy

Thank you. I look forward to those discussions across the North here and especially in my riding. Mr. Speaker, would the Minister then also commit to some of the department senior bureaucrats to be at this type of discussion with our people to come there with an attitude of listening to see how important these traditional knowledge experiences and wisdom are implemented to the government departments? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 149-15(6): Traditional Knowledge Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We always encourage our senior staff to get out of the offices and into the communities. We have a number of different initiatives out there that are utilizing traditional knowledge more and more. Protected areas, for example, is really an area that counts on the input from the knowledge of the people on the land. We will certainly have our people out there who will encourage all our senior staff to be involved and to make sure that they really fully understand and participate in this initiative. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Supplementary To Question 149-15(6): Traditional Knowledge Policy

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, just recently, the Premier and I and some members of the people in the Sahtu walked the Canol Trail using traditional knowledge. Using traditional knowledge, we also used the horses. Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask the Minister of ENR in terms of traditional knowledge. Would he report to the House in the future in terms of the effectiveness of the traditional policy that the government has implemented and hit a 10 year mark? Would the Minister then report to the House in terms of that evaluation of the TK policy? Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Mr. McLeod.

Further Return To Question 149-15(6): Traditional Knowledge Policy

Yes, Mr. Speaker, we will share all of the findings of our evaluation on the traditional knowledge policy with the Members. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Oral questions. Written questions. The honourable Member for the Sahtu, Mr. Yakeleya.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to return to item 5 of the orders of the day.