Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Government of the Northwest Territories Aboriginal Languages Plan was tabled in the House just about a year ago. The plan states the vision of a time soon to come. The Aboriginal languages are used extensively on a daily basis to communicate in NWT homes and the communities as well as within the organizations and agencies providing services to the public. I want to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment if he would look at advancing this further by establishing an Aboriginal languages agency or secretariat in the government to continue on with this plan.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Since we delivered that report in October 2010 on the NWT Aboriginal Languages Strategy, that is part of the plan. A recommendation came out of that document, enhancing even further, identifying an action on the establishment of a secretariat with the responsibility of oversight of the GNWT Aboriginal languages services. That is part of the recommendation that came into effect within the report. We are working towards those options that we are going to be discussing. We are discussing that at the current stage with our department and during the 2012-2013 business planning process there will be more discussion.
I’m very pleased to hear the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment talk about working towards this plan and also that it will be coming up in the business plans. I want to ask the Minister if in the interim, as we work towards this plan, there are mechanisms in place that will involve the regional translators as communities have different dialects and languages so that he’s already started to put together some plans in place where the regional input will be taken also into the office of the secretariat.
I think that’s the very reason why we gathered over 200-plus Aboriginal language experts in 2010, in March and April. Based on what we’ve heard from them, the report came as a package and it does highlight the importance of revitalizing and preserving our language. We are going to be reaching out to the regions. We need to hear their input into the project that we’re going to be working on. Definitely, by all means, we’re going to be reaching out to the MLAs and also to the regions as well. Mahsi.
Would this Aboriginal secretariat be one of the permanent secretariats within the government, or would it be just within the 17th Assembly’s business, or are we looking at 20, 30 years, maybe longer, to establish a strong, permanent secretariat office within the government?
When we first did a consultation and had a forum on the Aboriginal Languages Strategy, this is short term, and also we need to think long term how it’s going to have a potential positive impact into the regions, into the communities, into the whole Northwest Territories. In 2012-2013 it is a step forward for us and through the business planning process we need to identify funds to carry forward the wish of the people. We will continue the process. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The territorial government receives funds for the French from the federal government as one of the recognized languages in Canada. Has the Minister communicated that to the appropriate Minister in Ottawa to advise them that there are other Aboriginal languages that need funding such as the one that we’re getting for this French and that this government will seek stronger dollars to implement our language programs? Can the Minister advise me?
I’d like to thank the Member for asking that particular question because it is an important question. Since we’ve tabled the document in the House in 2010, I’ve had two or three different visits and meetings with the Minister responsible and also correspondence, and he is fully aware of our Languages Strategy. I’ve also met with the national grand chief, Mr. Atleo, and delivered the same messaging. It’s a shared responsibility. The Northwest Territories, federal, the communities, we need to all work together. This is a big document that will see some positive impacts into the Northwest Territories nationally and internationally, so we will continue to press that with the federal government. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
