Mahsi cho, Mr. Speaker. Today I spoke about the important work that Tu Nedhe schools are doing to promote and preserve aboriginal culture in their communities. I’d like to follow up my statement with questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.
Mr. Speaker, on Wednesday the Minister tabled the NWT Aboriginal Languages Plan. It’s good to see the government recognizing the importance of preserving aboriginal language. However, there was little mention about the connection between language and culture. I’d like to ask if the Minister acknowledges that there is a strong connection between language and culture. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. The honourable Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Indeed, that is part of the process. The recommendations that were brought forward, there are over 70 recommendations, and some of the recommendations would reflect on what the Member is referring to, the culture preservation and also the language in the schools as well. There’s heavy emphasis from the elders, from the traditional leaders that we need to have that in the schools. So I’m glad the Member is raising that issue, because that is important. It’s important for this government to proceed with that. Mr. Speaker, that is part of the plan. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, will the Minister commit to developing a strategic plan for the preservation of traditional aboriginal culture activities? Thank you.
Yes, this will be part of the plan as we move forward to start implementing the 73 recommendations that were brought forward. We will have a plan in place with the schools. We need to work with the education councils, as well, and with the leaders. But, most definitely, we will have a plan in place to deal with those matters. Mahsi.
Mr. Speaker, I’m glad to hear that the Minister is willing to consider this. Many schools are struggling with the delivery of their culture programming today. Will the Minister commit to increasing funding to those schools that are being proactive in the delivery of aboriginal cultural programming starting the next school year?
Mr. Speaker, I think we have been proactive in the past. We had a ministerial directive to have that funding that’s been distributed to education councils directly spent on the language and culture preservation. This will be an area that we need to highlight as part of the business planning cycle for next year and the following years. It is a priority for us and definitely this will be part of the discussion as we move forward.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Your final supplementary, Mr. Beaulieu.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In my Member’s statement I talked about the work being done by the Lutselk'e Dene School and the Deninu Kue School in Fort Resolution, but more can be done. Both schools agree that they can do more. Will the Minister assist the Lutselk'e Dene School and the Deninu Kue by allocating an additional $10,000 to each school to help the culture programming immediately? Thank you.
Mr. Speaker, I must commend the two schools for promoting even more of a culturally relevant program, on-the-land program, and the activities that are happening. Definitely, that’s a discussion that we need to have and I will definitely include the Member, and also the Members as we move forward on the importance of identifying key resources of investment that we need to identify for next year’s business planning cycle. Mr. Speaker, definitely, we will keep the Members informed on that. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. The honourable Member for Hay River South, Mrs. Groenewegen.
