Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Language is about identity, who we are and how we understand and interact with each other. Promoting Aboriginal languages encourages the promotion of healthy lifestyles and family and cultural values.
In 1993, the Assembly of First Nations declared the Month of March Aboriginal Languages Month. Since then, the Northwest Territories honours Aboriginal languages and cultures in March. This year, Mr. Speaker, we not only celebrate Aboriginal languages through initiatives in place for 2011 but also recognize the achievements of 2010.
Mr. Speaker, 2010 was a very active year for Aboriginal languages, starting with the Northwest Territories Aboriginal Languages Symposium. The information generated from the symposium formed part of the Aboriginal Languages Plan. The strategy, “Northwest Territories Aboriginal Languages Plan - A Shared Responsibility,” was tabled during the October 2010 session of the Legislative Assembly.
The development of the plan was a collaborative effort involving many people across the Territory and reflects not only priorities of the people of the Northwest Territories, but also recognizes that languages strengthen our society and underpins our culture. Implementing this plan will help us strengthen awareness of our northern uniqueness and identity, part of this Assembly’s vision for a strong, independent North built on partnerships.
Mr. Speaker, the overarching aim of this document is “A Shared Responsibility,” because the
participants of the symposium told us about the revitalization, preservation and maintenance of the Aboriginal languages in our Territory are the responsibilities of all stakeholders.
Mr. Speaker, 2011 will also be an active year. We are developing a full implementation plan for the Aboriginal Languages Strategy, which will outline a time frame and give more detail for the actions and outcomes proposed in the strategy.
The work plan is framed over a 10-year period and will address issues including government services, education programming, actions required to support revitalization and language community activities.
Next summer the Government of the Northwest Territories will host a second Northwest Territories Aboriginal Languages Summer Institute, a partnership between the Department of Education, Culture and Employment and the University of Victoria Certificate Program in Aboriginal Language Revitalization.
The partnership with the University of Victoria program benefits from the university’s relationship with the En’owkin Centre, the post-secondary education institute of the Okanagan First Nations known for its commitment to language revitalization. The two-week institute brings together community language workers and teachers representing official languages of the Northwest Territories. It is our goal that this is another initiative that will enable more people to speak their Aboriginal language in the coming years.
Mr. Speaker, Aboriginal Languages Month is a good opportunity to recognize the hard work of the language communities and applaud them for their ongoing dedication to ensure that languages flourish.
This government is committed to continuing its support of language and cultural activities. The involvement of each of the language communities is essential if we are to protect, maintain and strengthen language usage.
We hope all Aboriginal language speakers, language students and, indeed, all Northerners enjoy the celebration of language and culture in their communities during Aboriginal Languages Month.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Before I go on to Ministers’ statements I’d like to draw your attention to the gallery and the presence of a former Member of the Assembly, former Minister, former Sergeant-at-Arms, former Commissioner, marriage counsellor extraordinaire, Mr. Tony Whitford, in the gallery today.
---Applause
I’d also like to draw your attention to the presence of the Auditor General for Canada, Sheila Fraser, and her staff: Andrew Lennox, assistant auditor general; Jerome Berthelette, assistant auditor general; Glenn Wheeler, Tedd Wood, Eric Hellsten and Ghislain Desjardins.
The honourable Minister responsible for Finance, Mr. Miltenberger.
