Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have questions today for the Minister of Justice. About two years ago in the House I made some comments and asked some questions about possibly looking at getting some archives on the history of the RCMP in the Northwest Territories. The Minister, back then, mentioned that it would be a good idea to look into this and see the possibility of creating some type of dedication at the museum or some room that would highlight the history of the RCMP in the Northwest Territories and how it pertains to Canada.
I’d like to ask the Minister of Justice if there have been any updates on creating that type of exhibit. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Moses. The honourable Minister of Justice, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Of course, the RCMP has a long and historic significance to the Northwest Territories and to the people of the Northwest Territories. We have moved forward and I’m glad the Member is asking me these questions today. There is a need to preserve and share the extensive history of “G” Division here in the Northwest Territories. We’re currently working with a number of partners to develop a display and travelling educational pieces commemorating special constables and the seamstresses and interpreters and the guides that helped the RCMP officers survive here in the early days in the Northwest Territories.
A steering committee comprised of the Department of Justice, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the RCMP “G” Division has been working to develop exhibits and to display the history of the RCMP here in the NWT. So I thank the Member for his question. Thank you.
I appreciate the Minister’s comments and response. In terms of creating some type of exhibit to take on the road, I think it would be a great opportunity for this government to do that. It would not only talk about the history of the RCMP but it would create a stronger partnership between the RCMP and the communities and actually get the RCMP engaging with community members and especially the youth in the schools. So, I was wondering if he has a timeline on this exhibit that might be going out into the communities. Thank you.
The preservation of oral history, the gathering of artifacts, stories, photographs and mementos will flow from the work that is going to be done. Communities and elders will be engaged and they’ll be able to provide valuable insight into how we’re going to do this. As far as timeline goes, in early April the first team will be heading to Fort McPherson to start the interviewing process and record memories for generations to come to hear about those early days as part of a unique interactive display that we’re going to be putting together.
This committee is targeting Canada’s 150th Anniversary in 2017 as a national milestone for unveiling the projects. So the work is going to continue to happen in anticipation of 2017 and Canada’s 150th anniversary. Thank you.
That was leading up into my next question in terms of 2017. I was speaking with some people at the Wellness Conference last week and we got around to discussing 150 years come 2017, and I’m glad to hear that this project will be unveiling that.
Would there be others, possibly special presentations to our long-serving constables, especially Aboriginal constables who have done a lot of work with the Lost Patrol, the Mad Trapper, those kinds of things? Is something in the works to create that? Thank you.
The context is going to be on the special constables and the role that they play here in the Northwest Territories, many of which are now elderly. The committee is reviewing options to conduct oral interviews that will preserve the valuable stories that all of these individuals would have. We’re also examining the possibility of producing a travelling display that could reach every community and be available in schools across the Northwest Territories. This would allow the history of the RCMP to be shared across the Northwest Territories, and we’re also exploring the option of a dedicated website as well. We also are looking at other ways that we can enhance the educational component of all the exhibits and artifacts that we’re going to collect.
The Member is correct; in 1903 the first Mounted Police post north of the Arctic Circle was established at Fort McPherson. Horseback and dogsled teams were the mode of transportation at that time. So we’ve come a long way, but it’s important that we record the history and all of the good work that the RCMP have done here in the Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Moses.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. As we proceed to 2017, I know of one question I’d asked about two years ago was just the artifacts and some of the materials that are in the museums throughout Canada and whether or not the Minister would look at pursuing to get those back up in the North so that residents can also participate and see the history of these artifacts and what helped shape the Northwest Territories.
Has he taken the process of doing that or even looking at getting some of these artifacts on loan? Specifically the one in Regina, I know there’s a museum there that has some artifacts from historical events in the Northwest Territories. Has he looked at pursuing those types of options? Thank you.
Thank you. Years ago I did work at the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre and I do know that they have some artifacts, RCMP artifacts. They had a nice RCMP display in the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre at the time. There also is an RCMP museum in Regina. So, I think it’s just going to be a case of us trying to put everything together, and if it’s talking to the folks at ECE and approaching the RCMP museum in Regina maybe to repatriate some of those artifacts back to the Northwest Territories, those conversations and actions will take place. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
