Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I know we can all agree that there are a number of benefits to having locally trained professionals work in our region that come from our communities. Students, schools and communities benefit from an increase in cultural sensitivity and gain knowledge of Aboriginal history, language, and connection to the culture. In the Sahtu we have some success getting residents into the Teacher Education Program and our efforts continue.
In 2009 the Sahtu Education Council brought forward a well thought out proposal to prepare students academically for entrance in the teaching profession. This access program, which can be delivered in the Sahtu, would be available to students and residents who are interested in furthering their education in this field, creating the much needed resources in our region and, more importantly, role models.
I urge the Department of Education to invest in this model of training that will benefit our region and cut our costs to the education system. This initiative would involve the divisional education council, and ECE and Aurora College taking partnership in lowering the cost as well. That is one of our priorities: partnership. This model can be near a similar program that was held in the Tlicho region which, I might add, has been very successful.
From the proposal, I quote, “The Sahtu youth of this and future generations deserve to be in a learning environment where people of their culture are interacting with them in a professional, learning community.” These words are from the people of the Sahtu region. It is my hope that the Minister and the Government of the Northwest Territories hears them and facilitates making the proposal a reality for the residents of the Sahtu region. We are looking at doing that in the Sahtu region where we can have young students who are graduating from high school to want to become teachers. That’s something that we’ve been saying as leaders in this House, is to have our own people as lawyers, judges, teachers, doctors, and this is one proposal that will help them break that gap in ensuring our people have someone to look up to. We’re not going to be here all our lives, and we need young people to fill those roles and start having role models in our communities.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
