Debates of June 2, 2004 (day 18)

Mr. Speaker, my question is for the Minister of Education. Yesterday the Minister announced a new program to encourage aboriginal students to study law. If the Minister understands that direct support through bursaries and other means will promote the study of law and encourage long-term commitment to the North on the part of law students, does he not think the same kind of support specifically dedicated to the study of aboriginal languages for aboriginal language professionals will accomplish similar ends?

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Dent

Return To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I'm sure that the Member knows that I feel it's very important that we have aboriginal language instructors in our schools and that we support the development of them. In fact, the college has an aboriginal language and culture instructor program as part of its offerings. This government spends over $1.6 million a year on the teacher education program. The reason we do it in the Northwest Territories rather than seeing all our teachers go down south, is we want to encourage people who have language skills to learn in the North so that they can be in the schools. Part of the college program is a reinforcement of the aboriginal language and culture aspect of education. So, yes, this government does recognize how important that is, and we put an awful lot more money into training teachers than we do into training lawyers. So I would say that we've demonstrated that commitment, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Mr. Speaker, I did have an opportunity to look at our collective agreement with respect to further training by our teachers, and what's in there is that teachers do get application for education leave but they have to do it with reduced pay, at 60 percent of their salary level. I don't believe that that does enough to encourage our professionals to continue furthering their skills in language development. I would just like to ask the Minister how can we further encourage our aboriginal language professionals to look at further training? Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I guess I would argue that that amount has been negotiated at the bargaining table by the NWTTA and, therefore, isn't something that we can arbitrarily change. I think that the amount of funding that is provided for education leave for teachers is considered quite attractive in comparison to what's available in other jurisdictions, so I think we've done quite well there.

The other thing that's important to remember is that the aboriginal language and culture instructor program by the college is offered in conjunction with the divisional education councils in the region. So for instance, the Dehcho Divisional Education Council has, in conjunction with the college, offered within the Deh Cho this program to help teachers get that training on a part-time basis. So they can do it without having to lose any employment income, they can do it while they are still working full time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Mr. Speaker, I was just wondering if the Minister will be able to give some level of support for aboriginal language professionals through a dedicated program of bursaries, similar to what has been offered for aboriginal law students. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this government has a wide range of bursaries available for students, and students in the TEP program who are studying aboriginal languages would qualify for those bursaries, as well. There are health bursaries, there are bursaries for law students, there are bursaries and grants that are based usually on academic performance. So there are opportunities for students already to take advantage of grants and bursaries. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Dent. Your final supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.

Supplementary To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Mr. Speaker, thank you very much. In our newly released strategic plan, the government says it will implement school programs to support culture and language. I'm just wondering how the Minister of Education plans to accomplish this goal. Specifically, who will teach these programs? Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Mr. Dent.

Further Return To Question 196-15(3): Support For Aboriginal Language Development And Training

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, one of the most important ways we're going to do it, as I announced earlier this session, is we're going to be offering the full four-year bachelor of education program in the Northwest Territories. We're going to make sure that northerners have an opportunity to complete their training right through to the bachelor's baccalaureate level, and make sure that we have more qualified northerners available to teach in the classrooms. That is the most important way we're going to support this at first.

Hear! Hear!

There are a number of other things that we do. We support aboriginal language and culture through the development of the curriculum Dene Kede, and making sure that teachers in the classroom have access to resources so that they can better offer the program. But another important way that we're going to make sure that language is supported is through programs like the language nest. We ensure that kids come to school knowing that they are able to speak their language and, with some assistance, making sure the communities know that really much of the language learning has to be happening at home. You can have the best qualified teacher in the world, but if people aren't speaking their language at home it's not going to make a significant difference. So it's important that we get leaders, communities and the public to understand that the most important thing we can do is to encourage all parents to use their language when they're speaking to their young children.