Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Recently MLA Blake and I visited Fairbanks, Alaska, to learn about the Alaska Native Language Program. The trip had both an education and a language focus and I think we can learn a lot from their retention and revitalization strategies, and language acquisition and teaching methods. I believe these significantly complement our approaches in the Northwest Territories.
We met with faculty staff at the Alaska Native Language Centre and the College of Rural and Community Development at the University of Fairbanks, Alaska. The university incorporates indigenous knowledge and promotes Aboriginal language instruction and immersion programming from a kindergarten to postsecondary level.
For example, the Alaska Native Elder Apprenticeship Program provides opportunities for independent and motivated students to be paired with an elder and work intensively together to study an Alaskan native language. Mr. Speaker, this program is very impressive and today I would like to announce that the Department of Education, Culture and Employment will be researching options, like having elders in our schools and forming partnerships to explore the possibility of such a program, to assist with our work in revitalizing our own Aboriginal languages. These ideas will be more fully explored through the business planning process.
This work will involve discussion with the Official Languages Board, the Aboriginal Languages Revitalization Board, the Aboriginal language communities, community leaders and Members of this House. Our goal is to increase the number of Aboriginal language speakers, provide employment opportunities for elders and improve educational opportunities for all Aboriginal students. This is in accordance with the Aboriginal Student Achievement Education Plan and the vision of this Assembly to build on the strengths of Northerners. Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.
