Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Children have been described as the ultimate resource for a society’s long-term development and well-being. Nowhere is this more true than in the NWT where the proportion of our population under 24 years of age is almost 8 percent greater than for Canada as a whole. Last week I had the opportunity to participate with an esteemed group of northern leaders in hosting a youth forum in Fort Providence. I was joined by Mr. Joachim Bonnetrouge, chief of the Deh Gah Got’ie First Nation; Mr. Sam Gargan, former grand chief of the Dehcho First Nations and MLA; Mr. Steven Vandell, deputy mayor of Fort Providence; and Dene councillor Xavier Canadien, along with a group of dedicated teachers, community health and social service workers, recreational workers and the RCMP.
We met with a group of bright, ambitious young people to talk about their fears and concerns, their goals and hopes for their future, and their suggestions for community improvement. I’d like to thank Chris Carson and Lois Phillip for helping us out.
Our discussion was the beginning of a dialogue which highlighted the importance of involving our youth in decision-making at the earliest possible opportunity. After all, everything that we do is ultimately for the benefit of our young people. Youth today are growing up in a fast-paced, technological world. They have big problems such as addictions, suicide, teen pregnancy and violence which can derail young lives and steal bright futures. How do we prepare young people to be competitive in society while still embracing the culture and traditions of their ancestors that will ground them and give them strength and perspective?
The high school graduation rate for non-Aboriginal students in the NWT in 2011-12 was 78 percent, which is consistent with the national average. However, the graduation rate for Aboriginal students was only 44 percent. We are failing our Aboriginal youth. They cannot get jobs or be qualified for future employment if they are only educated to a Grade 9 level. Our kids need to know how the doors of the world will open to them with the right education. They need to know what it takes to succeed and to believe that they can do it.
Our young people need a variety of educational opportunities. They need youth workers, parent volunteers and interagency committees to help them set up access resources. They need jobs in their home communities. Most of all, they need the love, support and encouragement of healthy families and communities to give them the best possible chance in order to become productive adults. We must remember the youth that we raise today are tomorrow’s northern leaders.
Thank you, Mr. Nadli. The Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
