Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Member is correct that in October 1989, the previous Government Leader, Dennis Patterson, established the working group on traditional knowledge. Last March, my department was requested by the executive director of the Dene Cultural Institute to hold back on taking any action until after members of the group had the chance to re-gather and consider their recommendations in light of the Strength at Two Levels report. She indicated that they might want to change some of the recommendations, or redirect some emphasis. Thank you.

Oral questions. Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. There are many good recommendations made, quite a few of them. My question to the Minister is, does the traditional knowledge working group still exist?

Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, I believe they were dissolved right after the report was made, but I am told that the executive director of the Dene Cultural Institute is able to put together the former members quite quickly to do the work that they feel is necessary in terms of the changes that have happened with the government and also the restraint and the report of Strength at Two Levels. Thank you.

Supplementary, Mr. Koe.

Have the Dene Cultural Institute or members of the traditional knowledge working group applied for any funding from this government to continue their work?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To my knowledge, no.

Oral questions. Mr. Arvaluk.

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have directed my officials to have a meeting with the Keewatin Divisional Board to find ways in which we might be able to put some more resources into Keewatin teacher training. Up to this point I do not know what the department has done in terms of meeting with the Keewatin Divisional Board as I directed them to do. I will get back to the Member with detailed information as to how the assessment is being conducted.

Supplementary, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Can the Minister

also tell me, in the event that there is no funding found among those three departments and agencies, has he been talking with the Minister of Personnel to try to have the students to continue their second year of the program?

Mr. Allooloo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Up to this point I have not been communicating with the Minister of Personnel to see if we could find resources. Generally the resources come from the Department of Education to educate teachers. This year we put additional resources into the Keewatin since the divisional board did not want to fund the teacher training or contribute to teacher training. As a result of the recent events, the divisional boards informed me that they may be able to put two students through this teacher education program. To address the rest of the students who want to go into second year teacher training, I have asked my department to find ways in which we could do this, but this would have to be resolved between my department and the divisional board.

Mr. Pudluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The Minister for Renewable Resources is not in the House today, but I will ask the Government Leader this question. This year Greenland hunters were caught by Renewable Resources catching polar bears in the Canadian ice. Those polar bear skins have been taken away from the Greenland hunters. Grise Fiord has a concern that the polar bear caught by the Greenland hunters will affect their polar bear quota.

Ms. Cournoyea.

Mr. Speaker, I will take that as notice and provide a response.

The question has been taken as notice. Ms. Mike.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister responsible for the NWT Power Corporation. This corporation provides essential service to consumers in both the eastern and western areas of the NWT. Now is the time, however, to consider the structure that will be used to replace the current power corporation in Nunavut following division. Can the Minister indicate what planning she has initiated to identify the best way to meet the power delivery needs of communities in an independent Nunavut territory?

Ms. Cournoyea.