Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. [English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, later today I will table the Government of the Northwest Territories Aboriginal Languages Plan - A Shared Responsibility. The plan was crafted after reviewing the Standing Committee on Government Operations’ report Reality Check: Securing a Future for Official Languages of the Northwest Territories.
Over 200 delegates at the Aboriginal Languages Symposium held in late March 2010 offered their thoughts, concerns and ideas for this plan. As well, a number of community meetings were held to discuss the future of aboriginal languages. Other guiding documents, such as the Review of the Current Aboriginal Language Strategy, informed us. Over 300 people contributed and committed to the making of the Aboriginal Languages Plan.
This incredible level of commitment and participation is indicative of how vital aboriginal languages are to our people.
We believe the plan we all developed will improve the condition of our official aboriginal languages. It is reflective not only of the priorities of people of the Northwest Territories but of the recognition of this Assembly that languages strengthen our society and are critical to our culture and heritage.
The plan being tabled later today sets out a framework for strengthening aboriginal languages over the next decade. The plan recognizes and supports the concept that, as delegates at the
languages symposium clearly told us, individuals, families, language communities, governments and society as a whole share responsibility for language.
There have been a number of studies on aboriginal languages in the Northwest Territories over the years. We’ve learned much from this work and weigh and considered it in the development of our actions.
There are over 70 actions called for in the plan. We know that some actions will take longer to implement and that we need to identify resources to support various actions. However, there are also actions in the plan that we can implement now using our existing resources and we will begin action on those items right away.
In my travels through the communities of the Northwest Territories I had the opportunity and pleasure of discussing aboriginal languages with many people. It is clearly an issue on people’s minds and is one of great importance to them. Our leaders and elders have said that if we lose our language, we lose our identity and lessen who we are as a people. The actions identified in the plan help to address this concern by revitalizing and strengthening our official aboriginal languages.
I would like to thank the Standing Committee on Government Operations, including the committee’s chair, Mr. Kevin Menicoche, for their commitment to this issue and for their guidance in developing this plan. I also want to thank all the Members of this Assembly and this House, who provided encouragement and support for this important work.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs, Mr. Robert McLeod.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Later today I will table A Clear Path Forward: The Department of Municipal and Community Affairs’ Strategic Plan 2010-2015. This strategic plan was developed through an inclusive process involving staff, partners and stakeholders. It is in sync with the 16th Assembly’s priorities and embraces the goal of healthy, sustainable communities.
MACA has a broad mandate involving a variety of stakeholders. The department aims to provide relevant, effective programs and services reflecting innovation, learning and excellence.
Given the many changes of the past three years, it was time to review the achievements and milestones that MACA has achieved in collaboration with community governments, their representative organizations, sport organizations, and other partners. A Clear Path Forward identifies current and emerging issues and positions of the department to continue the positive momentum into the future.
The strategic plan highlights four key themes that will guide the work of the department in implementing its diverse mandate over the next five years.
The first theme, A Foundation for Leadership, recognizes that competent and effective elected leaders are necessary for community governments to function. Financial policies, programs and partnerships encompassing sound financial management need to be in place to support community governments in making solid decisions on their way to a sustainable and vibrant future.
The second theme, Moving Forward, recognizes that MACA needs to ensure it has the tools and resources to support community governments effectively. These tools include:
up-to-date comprehensive legislation and policies;
meaningful communications tools for connecting with clients;
strong partnerships; and
a skilled workforce that proactively supports community governments.
The third theme, Stronger, Safer Communities, speaks to MACA’s role in supporting community governments to address infrastructure planning, land management and public service. Fire protection, emergency management, clean drinking water, environmental planning and stewardship are all part of this theme with the ultimate goal to create stronger, safer communities.
Invest in People, Build Communities encompasses capacity building as a fourth theme. It speaks to the need to improve community government public safety by building the skills of community government staff. The department knows that healthy, active people contribute to the quality of life in our communities. Culturally relevant physical activity programs are supported to promote healthy lifestyles and positive choices. MACA continues to support the development of an active volunteer sector that in turn contributes to community well-being.
These four broad themes reflect the department’s high-level strategic directions over the next five years. Supporting actions and strategies will roll out to balance needs with available resources. Many of the items in the strategic plan are long-term in nature and the department’s intent is to report on the progress of the achievements annually.
Mr. Speaker, community governments and MACA’s other partners are facing a range of challenges and opportunities. The department is striving to maintain and improve meaningful partnerships with community governments, to meet shared goals and celebrate important milestones. I look forward to providing regular updates to Members on the activities undertaken to implement MACA’s strategic plan. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker...[English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, today I would like to talk about aboriginal language programs in Akaitcho, which Tu Nedhe is a part of, and the need to increase support for these programs.
Mr. Speaker, in the riding of Tu Nedhe there is a combined aboriginal population of around 95 percent. However, the actual number of Chipewyan-speaking residents is becoming less and less every year. Mr. Speaker, speaking the language is important for keeping the culture alive. Speaking the language allows elders to pass on important traditional practices and knowledge to the next generation.
Mr. Speaker, this government recently developed the GNWT’s Aboriginal Languages Plan yet provides very little financial resources to support the communities. As I said, most of their money comes from the federal government.
Mr. Speaker, earlier this year the Minister stated that the department is taking the lead in the revitalization to enhance and support official languages. He also talked about the government’s approach to languages being a shared responsibility. Mr. Speaker, if you ask the Deninu K'ue First Nations and Lutselk'e First Nations they will tell you that receiving only $17,000 is not enough and they feel the GNWT should do more to support the program.
Mr. Speaker, there are programs and services in place to preserve the Chipewyan language in Akaitcho. There are elders, workers, volunteers, teachers and professionals dedicated to keeping the language alive, but this is not enough and more support is needed. Mr. Speaker, these programs are crucial to keeping the language alive.
Currently, the Deninu K'ue First Nation and Lutselk'e First Nation receive $17,000 each. I believe the bulk of that money comes from the federal government through the Canada-NWT Cooperation Agreement for French and Aboriginal Languages. Seventeen thousand dollars is not enough to support a meaningful language program, Mr. Speaker. When you take into account the need to hire staff, run an office, cover admin, pay for travel, per diems, promotion and advertising, there is little left to promote the language program. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today we had a chance to meet with some Ministers and I am pleased that for the first time in his term we have been able to welcome the mayor of Hay River here today, His Worship Kelly Schofield, and our town manager, Terry Molenkamp.
Mr. Speaker, I just want to talk about Hay River a bit today. Hay River prides itself in being a diverse economy, diverse culture, a long-standing community with a lot of resiliency. Mr. Speaker, the mayor reminded me this morning in your office of a phrase that I really like. That is that the cup is half full. I try to stay positive about these things, but I need to be honest with my colleagues here today and tell you that Hay River is in need of some serious attention in terms of our economy there.
We went through, and have gone through, very difficult times in Hay River. I think back to the closure of the Pine Point Mine when we had 2,000 residents that just lived within an hour’s distance to the east of us. A lot of their trade, commerce and activity, services that they required came out of Hay River. When we heard that the Pine Point Mine would shut down, it was quite devastating news for Hay River. Then along came the timely decision of the Government of the Northwest Territories to locate the headquarters for NTPC in Hay River and how that decision went a long ways to mitigate the negative impact of the loss of Pine Point as our neighbour.
Mr. Speaker, we are at a time again now where we have seen a change and an evolving in our community. The headquarters of Northern Transportation, a long-standing, large corporate citizen in our community, were relocated recently to Edmonton along with the senior jobs that went with that. This was not good for Hay River.
Again, I don`t want to paint a really dire picture, because sometimes that can backfire as well. At the same time, we are happy with the long-awaited and anticipated construction of a trades shop in Hay River, the construction of the assisted living facility which is up and operational now and all the jobs involved in that operation, the renovation of our school and, of course, the new hospital for Hay River on the horizon in our capital budget.
But, Mr. Speaker, at this time, I really do feel that we need to draw our government`s attention to the fact that Hay River, to be sustainable and to continue on the way we have, these projects are good, but we need something long term. We have mining on our doorstep. We have potential of Avalon. We have the potential of what Tamerlane can bring there. We have also the ability to accommodate these activities.
I would like to thank the mayor and the town manager for meeting with Ministers today to draw this to their attention again. We will work together. We will improve things. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. The honourable Member for Kam Lake, Mr. Ramsay.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have spoken at length about the growing deficits of our health authorities and question the Minister about her lack of attention on addressing these issues that are just not going away.
On Monday, when I asked Minister Lee about the deficit at Stanton and the system-wide deficit, she answered that it was $10.1 million at Stanton and $16.8 million system-wide. These totals, Mr. Speaker, are only for the fiscal year 2011. What I was looking for was the Minister to state the accumulated totals for Stanton and system-wide. These numbers, Mr. Speaker, are much, much higher.
Somewhere these deficits have got to have our Department of Finance and the Finance Minister hearing some very loud alarm bells.
Mr. Speaker, my belief is that the biggest factors are chronic underfunding and unfunded positions. Government has never managed these issues effectively. With the ever-growing cost to deliver services to our residents, the inaction of government is magnified and manifests itself in these large deficits.
I am not sure what world the Minister lives in, but where I come from, if you have a problem that you can clearly see, you take action to fix it. For seven years the government has done nothing but to simply bail out the department and authorities.
At times, in order to placate some Members, they might look like they are interested in doing something like hiring a new CEO or senior staff, developing deficit-fighting plans that are never acted on and saying they are greatly concerned when questioned.
Mr. Speaker, words alone are not going to fix the problems. Nickel and diming patients for television, parking and telephone is not going to fix the problems. It will take a concerted effort by the Minister and department to present proper budgets before this House, not something they know is inadequate.
Given the fact it will need to maximize how each and every dollar is spent, we will need to vigorously pursue purchasing partnerships with our neighbours in western jurisdictions across Western Canada. We will need to commit ourselves to reducing our costs and searching out more efficient ways to buy health care supplies, procure services and manage our health care system,
Mr. Speaker, I will have questions for the Minister at the appropriate time. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. The honourable Member for Frame Lake, Ms. Bisaro.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Homelessness is spreading in our Territory. Where it used to be an issue or a problem found only in the capital or maybe in our regional centres, it is now evident in our smaller communities.
Homelessness has many forms. Absolute homelessness is living on the street, staying in a shelter on a regular basis, or living in places not meant for human habitation. Relative homelessness is living in spaces that don’t meet basic health and safety standards; condemned buildings, for instance. Hidden homelessness refers to those who are temporarily staying with friends or family -- it’s called couch surfing -- or those who are staying with someone only to obtain shelter, and that includes those living in a home where they are subject to family violence. There’s at-risk homelessness; those who are one step away from eviction, bankruptcy or family separation and thus the loss of their home. Finally, people living with core housing need are considered to be homeless. Their housing does not meet the standards of adequacy, affordability and suitability. We’ve heard much about GNWT’s failure to provide enough housing that meets these standards before and we will no doubt hear Members’ concerns again.
All of these descriptions of homelessness affect residents of all ages of children as well as adults. Late in 2007, early 2008, the report of a research study into women’s homelessness north of 60 was released. The report was comprehensive and informative, but the content was disturbing, Mr. Speaker, and pointed the very real need for action to address the precarious situation of homeless or near homeless women across the North. There is a need in any community for a continuum of housing services.
Here in Yellowknife we have several gaps. We have transitional housing for single women being the most notable one. There are transitional spaces for families and for single men, but not for single women. We’re lucky to have a number of organizations who provide services and shelters to the homeless in Yellowknife, but there’s a particular need here for services for homeless women and the need for a permanent transition home for homeless women.
In February of 2009 the city’s Homeless Coalition opened the Bailey House, a transition house for single men. It’s proved to be very successful. Since its opening, 14 men have transitioned from Bailey House to their own home and we now badly need to provide the same opportunities for single women here in Yellowknife.
Mr. Speaker, I do what I can to support the Yellowknife Homeless Coalition as they work on the Women’s Transition Home Project.
Ms. Bisaro, your time for your Member’s statement has expired.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
I do what I can to support the Yellowknife Homeless Coalition. I can only hope that our government is doing all it can to facilitate the same project. Thank you.
Thank you, Ms. Bisaro. The honourable Member for Mackenzie Delta, Mr. Krutko.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I’d like to speak about the affect of languages in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, the aboriginal language groups I represent, especially the Gwich’in, whose language is presently classified as critical, Mr. Speaker, we are now down to 228 language speakers, the majority of them over the age of 60. Mr. Speaker, I think it’s a critical time in the life of not only our government, but protection of our language, culture and the importance that all our language groups play in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, I think it’s important that we not only look at the ability to speak a language but also the ability to use the language on a day-to-day basis regardless if it’s at home, regardless if it’s at work, regardless if it’s talking in a public forum such as this.
Mr. Speaker, I think the importance of the Gwich’in Revitalization Program that has been developed shows you that the Gwich’in speakers, the language groups and the local language societies are doing their part to try to revitalize this language, which is presently classified as critical. We’re also using the term “endangered.” I think it’s important, Mr. Speaker, that we have to do everything that we can to not only make sure that we make the capital investments in these areas that they’re needed but, more importantly, protect the languages and give them the similar protections we allow for the French in the Northwest Territories so that they can feel free to use the language in the workforce, so that they can have service clinics in the preferred language groups in the areas that they operate out of.
I think, Mr. Speaker, we have to not only include it in the schools but also offer the opportunity for residents, regardless if they’re Gwich’in or non-Gwich’in, to have the ability to have offered immersion programs so that they can be taught the language that Billy is speaking and, more importantly, understand the language and culture of those groups and the regions they come from.
The final point is, we have to increase the use of the Gwich’in language in the public forums, at public meetings and in public events. I will be asking the Minister of Education questions on this matter later.
Thank you, Mr. Krutko. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
[English translation not provided.]
Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise today to speak on the importance of the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment’s release of the Aboriginal Languages Plan. This is one of the major initiatives that our government can call a legacy for this Assembly.
Last fall I had the honour of chairing the Aboriginal Languages Symposium with the Honourable Jackson Lafferty. We brought together our best and hardworking language specialists from throughout the Northwest Territories. We said this is not just another symposium but a launching pad as we work towards revitalizing our aboriginal languages.
What I learned from this symposium was by a doctor of languages who has done studies on immersions. His research has shown that in typical schools within aboriginal communities, our aboriginal students have high drop-out rates and low graduation. However, when he studied communities with a long history of aboriginal immersion in the first three years of grade school and then introduced English, he found that they actually had a better command of the English language and had better grades at school, thus better attendance and a higher graduation rate. This speaks volumes about what speaking our aboriginal language means to our people and our children.
Languages are all about cultural identity and confidence in who you are as an aboriginal. Teaching our aboriginal languages in the schools from K to 3 in wholly immersion is positive and beneficial not only for the youth and parents but for the future of the NWT as a whole.
This is the vision that I see for our languages, our children in our schools and our North: having a positive multilingual and energetic youth will indeed guarantee a strong and vibrant future for our Northwest Territories.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My statement today focuses on supporting the vitality of the Weledeh language and the need for flexible and effective language support programs.
Akaitcho people in my Weledeh riding don’t speak Tlicho or Chipewyan. They speak Weledeh, which is a unique amalgam of the two languages. The Yellowknives Dene First Nation has long been on the record calling for official recognition of Weledeh and I support this aspiration.
Weledeh speaking elders talk about the confusion that results when it is assumed that Tlicho translation can stand in for Weledeh translation. One recalled at an environmental hearing where elders talking about putting their “hooks” in the lake to fish was translated as putting “berries” in the lake. The differences from other languages cause more than occasional misunderstandings.
I’ve been working with the Minister to ensure that children attending the Mildred Hall School are taught Weledeh, not Chipewyan or Tlicho. Classroom instruction mustn’t confuse children and teach them a language their parents don’t use or improper use or pronunciation of language terms. We need to ensure that when the local aboriginal language is taught in Yellowknife schools, we’re talking Weledeh.
Funding support has also been a problem. Locally, ECE distributes funding to support community language programs through the Tlicho and Akaitcho governments. Limited funds for Weledeh programs trickle off these two pots in small, random amounts, sometimes too late in the fiscal year to be used to best effect. The Minister has committed to improving distribution of funds to Weledeh and my constituents look forward to that.
Finally, there is a continuing problem of training certified language instructors and granting them credentials. I have told this Assembly that only two course modules are offered each year and that because 20 course credits are needed for certification, it takes 10 years to amass needed credits. Moreover, we still lack recognized evaluators who can certify, so even those who have stuck it out for the 10 years can’t get the certification required for the well-paying jobs. This problem has been pointed out for years and we need action now.
We’ve made some progress in ensuring that languages, the basis of all cultures, are protected and promoted. Let’s now get more effective with our programs and dollars delivered at the community level.
Thank you, Mr. Bromley. The honourable Member for Great Slave, Mr. Abernethy.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to take this opportunity to applaud the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment for leading his department in the development of the Northwest Territories Aboriginal Languages Plan - A Shared Responsibility. I think this plan is an important step in revitalizing aboriginal languages throughout the Northwest Territories.
As a member of the Government Ops committee, I had the opportunity to participate on the committee in the review of the Official Languages Act earlier in the life of this Assembly where we came up with Reality Check: Securing a Future for the Official Languages in the Northwest Territories.
As part of that review I had the privilege and honour of travelling to communities with members of the committee to meet with the champions of the individual aboriginal language groups throughout the Northwest Territories. During these meetings it became obvious and clear that language is inherent to culture and culture is inherent to language. Without one the other is challenged, the other is threatened. So it’s important that we find ways to work with the aboriginal communities to revitalize these languages.
They are under threat. For example, in 2006 there were only 200 people who identified Gwich’in as their mother tongue and, more alarmingly, only 20 of them indicated that they use it as their home language. In Inuktitut we had 800 who claimed it as their mother tongue; only 145 said they use it as their home language. Cree: 205 identified it as their mother tongue; only 20 identified it as their home language. Chipewyan: 410 identified it as their mother tongue; only 115 identified it as their home language. Tlicho is a little bit better: 2,040 identified it as their mother tongue; only 1,095 indicated they use it as their home language. North and South Slavey: 2,170 identified it as their mother tongue; 975 indicated it is their home language. Clearly the languages are in trouble and need some work.
In our report we built upon the report that was conducted and completed in 2003 where there are 65 recommendations made. Unfortunately, at the time it was clear to us that many of these recommendations weren’t acted upon. As a result, we built upon those recommendations and came up with 48 of our recommendations which we passed along to the Minister. I know, based on the fact that they have 70 actions, many, and I know that at least 17 for sure, have been addressed directly and they’re moving on them. This is an important step and it’s going to go a long way to revitalizing aboriginal languages in the Northwest Territories. Once again I would like to thank the Minister for that work.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For many years the outfitting industry has been significant to our northern economy. It has represented a good balance between tourism and promotion, conservation, economic investment, business and certainly local employment. For decades lodges brought tourists to the North. That was new money to our territorial economy that helped diversify our economy and certainly employ people.
In a market like ours, there was great confidence, and businessmen, women and families alike met that confidence with investment and kept investing in their lodges and in the North.
Now things have changed. We’ve all heard about the mysterious disappearing caribou and the outfitters know the writing is on the wall. They see the realities before them and they do want to play a part. But where is the government in their time of need?
Most outfitters feel they’ve been rolling out the proverbial red carpet for many years for our economy. Now in their time of need that carpet has been pulled out from underneath them by this government. Most of these people have no other option of where to go or what to do. Furthermore, the reality is these old warhorses of the outfitting industry are not an easy group to retool and say everything will be fine. Many have invested millions and now, without any customers at all, there are no options for those million dollar lodges. They all become worthless because of our new position with the lack of caribou. Where is the government in their support?
Some will say ecotourism is your new herald opportunity. The hard reality is very few people will pay $3,000, $4,000, $5,000, who knows how many thousands to go take a picture and smell some flowers. ENR said in the hearings that the outfitters were not responsible for the decline. Instead they were an asset, providing biologists samples, by only taking the bulls, and certainly being the eyes and ears on the Barrens. Yet the outfitters are suffering without government support.
We’re in a critical time for many of these people. Folks will say they should sit it out and wait, but the reality is they’ve poured every dollar they earned into their nest egg with the hopes that someday they could sell it as their retirement package. Those millions have turned into pennies, if at all. Surely they can’t wait. Most can’t start over in three to 10 years because that’s really what it takes to rebuild the economy after they can start again.
In closing, the late Jim Petersen said, “Outfitters are an endangered species.” I think he missed the mark only by a hair. They’ve become an extinct species.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. It gives me great pleasure to recognize an old colleague of mine as well, Mr. Harley Crowshoe. He’s the regional director for aboriginal policing from Edmonton, Alberta. Also Julie Day, policy analyst with aboriginal policing from Ottawa, Ontario. Both of these individuals are here as part of the federal aboriginal policing directorate and participating in self-government meetings. Welcome to the Assembly.
The honourable Member for Inuvik Boot Lake, Mr. Roland.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a long-term resident, very busy and very active yet, Ms. Cece McCauley, who was recently elected as the president of the Norman Wells Land Corp. Also with her in the gallery are Larry Tourangeau and Margaret McDonald.
The honourable Member for Tu Nedhe, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize Snookie Catholique, former resident of Lutselk’e.
The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would never argue with you, but I would also like to recognize my constituent Mayor Kelly Schofield and my constituent, town manager Terry Molenkamp.
Also today it’s a pleasure to welcome especially Cece McCauley. She’s not only the elected representative of their land corporation, she is the chief of the Women Warriors.
Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. If we’ve missed anyone in the gallery today, welcome to the House. I hope you’re enjoying the proceedings.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I talked about the need to provide more funding for aboriginal programs in the Akaitcho. I have questions for the Minister responsible for aboriginal languages, the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Jackson Lafferty.
Does the Minister recognize that keeping the regional languages committee alive is a vital part of preserving the aboriginal languages?
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister responsible for Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
