(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I continue to be concerned about this government's approach to what has been called a cultural education of our aboriginal youth. I do not agree with the current trends, that give the school system primary responsibility for transmitting our traditional knowledge to the youth of our communities.

I must state clearly here, that I am not being critical of the very special efforts that have been made by the talented Dene and Inuit teachers, who have accomplished a lot in this area, often with limited resources.

My problem, is the principle, that the young persons discovery of our aboriginal way of life, should be assimilated within the school system, that is based on an entirely different set of beliefs about how children learn.

Here is what I mean, the school system we have in the Northwest Territories is based on values, principles that reflect the best way to teach the children about things that are important to the European culture.

Highly developed teaching technologies are used to help children master mathematical concepts, making scientific frame work, and expressing themselves through written word.

That may be the best way to teach youth the knowledge that has been accumulated by the non-native culture, but it is not the best way to show a young person how to live in a way our Dene and our Inuit have lived.

I think I am talking too fast for the interpreter. I would ask the honourable Members who are of aboriginal descent to think about their own childhoods. Where did they learn to make a camp that can withstand the cold and the wind? How did they learn how to set a snare?