Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, youth in our territory face many challenges that we speak about daily in this House. Homelessness, violence, addiction, sexual abuse, and a lack of stability are putting a huge amount of stress on the young people of the Northwest Territories. Suicide rates are rising while the age of those identifying with suicidal thoughts is becoming younger and younger. Constituents with children as young as 12 have spoken to me about their concerns for their children after being alerted by their child's school as to words of selfharm. For Indigenous youth, this instability skyrockets when you add in systemic racism and the legacy of colonization, the 60s Scoop, and the residential and Indian day schools. Lack of resources in communities, including poor dental and health care, a high turnover and lack of teachers and support workers, and no access to recreational facilities only further compound the issue.
I said it here before, Mr. Speaker we are a have and have not territory. Many youth prosper in Yellowknife. They become renowned athletes, doctors, lawyers, and trades people. Yet one only has to travel a few hours down the road and it's a whole different story. Schools are mouldy and falling apart. There are no tennis courts or separate curling and hockey arenas like in Yellowknife. Some communities don't even have a youth centre somewhere safe for youth to hang out when their home is not. And the only community with a youth shelter is Yellowknife, which isn't even run by our government. Rather, it is the hearts and life's work of the dedicated employees of an NGO Home Base.
Home Base is constantly struggling to find money and staff to meet the overwhelming need of youth in our communities. And, Mr. Speaker, when you do speak to the youth at the shelter, many are Indigenous, and many have come from outside communities to Yellowknife to seek resources and support.
Mr. Speaker, this already paints a pretty bleak picture of what many of the youth in our territory face. However, some have further hurdles in their way. For youth who identify as 2SLGBTEQIPA+, our territory is even more dangerous.
Yesterday, my colleague from Inuvik Twin Lakes made an impassioned plea for anyone with knowledge of Frank Gruben's whereabouts to come forward. Today I want to make the same plea. We need to bring this young man home for his family and his friends. Often it is the information that we don't think is relevant that could lead to a break in the investigation. If you know something, call the police. Frank deserves better than this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Member for Great Slave. Members' statements. Member for Thebacha.
