Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As the government, we continue to try to regulate rather than make common sense. I am talking about getting our elders their traditional foods in our health centres and facilities, like serving fish, moose or caribou, or even a rabbit at our health facilities. Mr. Speaker, our elders are starving for their God-given foods. I want to state why we are falling short in helping our elders and how we can help in the long run.
What are our policies about serving Aboriginal traditional foods to our elders in our health facilities? It is reported that at one time we had 65 percent of patients at Stanton Hospital that were Aboriginal. Some long-term care facilities are struggling to serve Aboriginal foods.
Aboriginal foods to our elders is like fish to water. They need it to survive. It’s part of who they are. Mr. Speaker, there is a solution. Vital Abel Home or the Larga Home can help with this problem. We can have Vital Abel or Larga be the place where Aboriginal traditional foods can be cooked and delivered to Stanton or Aven Manor in Yellowknife. Communities can donate fish and meat to these centres.
Mr. Speaker, we need to do the right thing. Feed the elders. It is not too much to ask for all that they have done for us and continue to do for us. I ask this Minister and this government to commit to an action plan that will have traditional foods served up to 90 percent in our health facilities. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Hay River North, Mr. Bouchard.
