Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Stanton Territorial Hospital Renewal Project must include a wellness centre that beats for the hearts of all Aboriginal people and culture. Our territorial hospital, when renovated, has to incorporate the Aboriginal identity that over 50 percent of our population has. “There is one thing stronger than all the armies in the world, and that is an idea whose time has come,” said Victor Hugo, the famous writer. I believe it’s true in this case.
Colonialism and, consequently, the residential school system for Aboriginal peoples in Canada has resulted in the loss of control over their lives and culture and they continue to struggle for self-determination on almost every level, including the health care system.
Aboriginal people die earlier, live in conditions comparable to Third World countries, experience housing and living crises, obtain lower education levels, experience unemployment and poverty and are at increased risk for suicide, tuberculosis and diabetes.
Improving and recognizing a unique Aboriginal health care model is beneficial because it has been shown in other jurisdictions that having close Aboriginal ties to traditional healing works wonders. Cancer rates decrease, diabetes rates decline and the general health and well-being improves because our people are comfortable and relaxed in a setting they recognize.
Francois Paulette, chair of the Stanton Elders Council, has recently called upon the Department of Health and Social Services to include an Aboriginal wellness centre at the Stanton Territorial Hospital. I support this and I will look to all my colleagues to support it as well.
He and all the members of the Elders Council envision a facility that would blend traditional and western medicine at the hospital to enshrine and recognize Aboriginal culture and traditional healing practices to complement our NWT health care services.
The council has seen how this works by observing other hospitals that incorporate traditional healing into their facilities. Two unique northern examples are the Alaska Native Medical Center which is home to one of North American’s most unique health care environments, the place where the highest quality care and cutting-edge technology meets special Aboriginal cultural and traditional services and patient experiences.
Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
Then, in the Yukon, the First Nations health programs promote the provision of quality culturally sensitive holistic health care to Aboriginal people by providing social and spiritual support as well as access to traditional food, medicine and healing practices.
I am pleased to hear that the Department of Health and Social Services is supportive of the concept and has identified and set aside land at the Stanton Territorial Hospital. Regretfully, an Aboriginal wellness centre was never included in the Stanton Renewal Project. But with political will, no army can stop us from including it in the plan. We must find a way to provide funding for a business plan and get this facility on our books and into the Stanton Renewal Project before we complete it in five years’ time.
I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services during question period. Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. Member for Range Lake, Mr. Dolynny.
