Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Madam Premier.

Mr. Speaker, at a meeting in 1989, the Assembly of First Nations expressed concern over the use and preservation of aboriginal languages in Canada and the need to entrench aboriginal language rights in the Canadian Constitution.

Every year since that meeting, March 31 has been celebrated as aboriginal languages day - a day that is set aside to recognize and appreciate the survival and richness of aboriginal languages. This is a celebration that receives the full support of the Government of the Northwest Territories and the people it represents.

In the Northwest Territories, Mr. Speaker, the government and the Legislative Assembly took steps, a number of years ago to pass a Languages Act that recognizes aboriginal languages, as well as English and French, as official languages.

This recognition is something that is not in place in other Canadian jurisdictions and today would be a good time to remind people throughout this country of the importance of promoting and preserving aboriginal languages.

The survival of aboriginal languages requires the support and encouragement of elders, parents, schools, communities and all levels of government. All of us share a responsibility for the future of our languages.

In conclusion, it is appropriate for all Members of the Legislative Assembly to recognize the important work and dedication displayed by the members of the language bureau who make it possible for this House to operate in all the official languages of the Northwest Territories. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Allooloo.

Mr. Speaker, on March 25 in Grise Fiord, a second public meeting was held to address concerns over ocean dumping of industrial scrap in Canada's Arctic region.

During the meeting, the Government of the Northwest Territories and Inuit representatives continued to object strongly to issuing a permit to allow PanArctic Oil to dispose 400 tonnes of scrap metal into the ocean adjacent to Lougheed Island. Mr. Speaker, concern was also expressed over the Government of Canada's general policy of authorizing the dumping of industrial scrap material in the Arctic Ocean.

Our government and Inuit representatives recommended that PanArctic's permit be withheld until a thorough review of ocean dumping in the Arctic is done. They also recommended that as much material as possible be reused and a proper review of disposal options be undertaken.

These recommendations and others made during the meeting are being forwarded to the Honourable Jean Charest, the federal Minister of the Environment. I have written to Mr. Charest urging him to express support for the recommendations prior to April 15, when PanArctic's ocean dumping permit comes into effect. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Item 2, Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Gargan.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the spring of 1991, a report was prepared by the traditional knowledge working group and subsequently tabled in this House. Mr. Speaker, I am appalled at the lack of action that has followed the transmission of this important report. This was a significant project in which many northern elders and community representatives devoted hours of work. The Dene Cultural Institute, the Metis Heritage Association, the Inuvialuit social development program, the Inuit Cultural Institute and other organizations were directly involved.

The report which came out of this exercise should have been seized by the government as a valuable blueprint for incorporating the traditional wisdom of our communities within

the government framework. Instead, it has sat on the shelf. There has been no meaningful response from this government. The report has been neglected and the importance of traditional knowledge has been treated lightly. Mr. Speaker, I find that to be shameful.

Mr. Speaker, my honourable colleagues for Inuvik and Keewatin Central raised this issue back in June, 1992. Each time, the Minister of the day has indicated that government bureaucrats are preparing a paper about the report for review by Cabinet. I have never understood why that is necessary. The report is well written and the working group's recommendations stand on their own merits. I have also not understood why it has taken the Cabinet two years to deal with the report.

Clearly, the process of incorporating aboriginal wisdom and traditional knowledge within the workings of public government do not seem to be a priority of this government. It should be a priority, Mr. Speaker. I intend to pursue this matter until I am satisfied that the appropriate level of attention has been paid to it. Mahsi.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Koe.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. On November 22, 1992, the Minister of Justice tabled Tabled Document 19-12(3), the 1992 Master Plan for Corrections Service Division. This report was prepared by a Vancouver consulting firm, the Apra Group Incorporated, in August, 1992. This report examines the existing system of corrections and justice in the Northwest Territories and goes on to list the number of needs apparent in that system. It then makes a number of recommendations. The report suggests two alternative service delivery models. Model A advocates the retention of the existing institutional base system with a number of capital upgrading and expansion proposals. Model B advocates a community-based system with emphasis on alternatives of incarceration while also recommending capital upgrading and expansion of present facilities. The report also examines and compares the advantages and disadvantages of both models and recommends model B as the preferred option.

The report is scathing as to the inadequacies of the present system. The number of inmates is increasing beyond what anyone had anticipated and the existing facilities and corrections system must be vastly improved. The recommended model concentrates on community justice and open custody instead of institutionalization. It offers alternatives to incarceration using jail only in the most serious of cases. It advocates a holistic approach to treatment while offering more sentencing options.

Mr. Speaker, I support some of the recommendations of the report, especially references to strengthening and utilizing community justice committees and systems. For changes to be made and to become effective there must be commitments from the corrections and justice system, and corresponding commitments by communities and regional organizations to practice the method of community corrections.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to continue.

The honourable Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Koe.

Mahsi. The one area which I have some difficulty with is the recommendation to upgrade and expand the existing facilities in Iqaluit, Hay River and Yellowknife. Mr. Speaker, my opinion is that new beds are required and that new facilities be built, and that these new facilities be located in regions in centrally located communities which do not have adequate institutions. For example, there are no institutions of these kinds in the Inuvik region, the Kitikmeot region and the Deh Cho area. I fully support the intention to repatriate federal offenders back to the north and support the construction of new facilities to house these prisoners, but place them in communities which need economic boosts. Mahsi.

---Applause

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would also like to express my appreciation of the aboriginal languages day. The aboriginal languages which have been recognized as the official languages in the Northwest Territories are, indeed, numerous, but it shows the tolerance that we have for each other which has been passed on to us by our ancestors. They came before us, and they used and formed the languages which we speak of today. However, they have been formed over many centuries and they have always had much to do with the land and the surroundings in which they lived. Much like other cultures, their language increased with the amount of interaction with other peoples.

The language of Inuit varies from region to region and from community to community, in fact, it varies from country to country and it varies within the communities. For example, I speak a dialect with is very distinct from those in other communities. Even inside the community of Baker Lake there are four or five different dialects spoken. This is because the community is made up of people from the surrounding area, but it also has people who moved in during the 1960s. The people to the north, from the southeastern Kitikmeot area, form one dialect. There are people from the south who come from the Paalirmuit area who form another dialect. There are those who originated in the Igloolik/Repulse Bay area who form another dialect. There are those who come from the Back River/Garry Lake area who speak another dialect.

My most recent ancestors were probably closest to the community of Baker Lake. They came from the Thelon River area which specifically is the Aberdeen Lake and the Schultz Lake area. In today's society we also have people who are transient and come from various communities in the Baffin region. I would also like to add at this point there are so many times when I am being interviewed by Inuktitut CBC personnel that we often revert to English because we have difficulty in clarifying ourselves.

Mr. Speaker, by tolerance the people who have varying languages are able to live together and form a very cohesive group. The people who I represent prove that. I have much respect for the people who work in this Assembly as interpreter/translators because I know we are not always the easiest people to work with because so often we want something done yesterday. Today, Mr. Speaker, I give my applause to them.

Thank you, Mr. Arngna'naaq. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Todd.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to pay tribute to one of the oldest elders in the Keewatin region, John Kavik, who died at the age of 97 last Saturday. Mr. Kavik was world famous because of his artistic abilities as a carver, and collectors from museums all over the world have many of his pieces.

I would like to extend my deepest sympathy to his family and in particular to the Udjuk and Twyee families who have been good friends of mine for the last 25 years. Thank you.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Arvaluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to make a short statement on national aboriginal languages day. First, I would like to thank the Assembly of First Nations for declaring this special day. I hope that all aboriginal people will join in celebrating this day.

We have much to celebrate. Our languages in the NWT are still alive and we still use them every day. Our government is the only legislature in North America which has given official status to aboriginal languages.

We can learn a great deal from the achievements of French people in the NWT and in Canada as a whole about language rights and how to fight for these rights.

Why do I care about my language, Inuktitut? I grew up speaking my language. All my cultural knowledge and language was taught to me in a traditional way. We live in a very cold climate, and by understanding my language I learn more about the climate. I am very happy today that I can speak Inuktitut and I can think better using my knowledge of Inuktitut. I can go out on the land and remember the stories I was told in my language as a child and I feel happy about those times. I do not think I could have learned all this traditional knowledge if I had not spoken Inuktitut.

Your time has elapsed, Mr. Arvaluk.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.

The Member is seeking unanimous consent. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Please proceed, Mr. Arvaluk.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and my fellow MLAs. I see many young people today who are not able to speak their language well. Some of these people do not speak English well either. I think these young people feel a bit lost because they cannot really understand everything when the elders try to explain things to them. I encourage young people to try hard to learn their language well, talk to the elders, listen to those who are fluent in their language and ask questions. The elders need to feel what they have to say is useful in today's world and they need to feel appreciated. I am happy to be fluent in my language so I can get advice from elders and enjoy their company. We must remember that young people are the only hope for the survival of our languages. Let us try hard to help them learn our language, appreciate it and feel pride that comes with the strong cultural identity.

I hope our government will continue to support aboriginal languages and I know I will do all I can to use it and teach it as often as possible. I also thank the Secretary of State for funding for aboriginal languages. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you, Mr. Arvaluk. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Pudlat.

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I also wish to recognize this special day for aboriginal languages. Mr. Speaker, first of all I have a short comment. When I was trying to get elected as an MLA, I stressed the fact that I would be pursuing aboriginal languages in the House and I am very proud to be able to speak in my first language. Recognizing all the interpreters here, who speak different languages, I am very proud to be one of them. I also celebrate this special day, being an aboriginal. I am very pleased, Mr. Speaker, when I have to travel to other communities to attend meetings, there are always people who can speak my language and I can use my language through interpreters during these meetings.

Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.