Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, this morning I made a statement with regard to culture and the existing laws regarding aboriginal traditions and customs. One of the statements that I have made for the last ten years is we keep putting in what is very unique, what is very separate from white, Euro-Canadian laws in order for it to be recognized and I am always put in a situation where I disagree with that absolutely. One of the reasons is that you have taken away what was the responsibility of aboriginal people, aboriginal parents, aboriginal grandparents and aboriginal children; basically, what is rightfully theirs. We plan it in a school system which is totally out of whack with the way things are being learned, the way it is being carried out. I know that the Minister is going to be doing a review of the Education Act and I am hoping that as a result of the public hearing we will be able to say to the communities we have tried cultural inclusion programs in the act for ten years, since 1982, I believe, when the Special Committee on Education went around. Thanks to Dennis, I have been fighting that section since it was made a part of the Education Act. I want to tell the Minister that this is one area in which I do hope there are some changes made. If custom adoptions are legally recognized in the courts by virtue of section 35, I would hope that all aboriginal languages, music, stories and everything else are recognized and that you allow and encourage the communities to take on those responsibilities and provide the resources necessary for them to carry them out. I would say that the results would be more positive than if we left them in the schools. Somehow it just doesn't seem right to communities. Mr. Chairman, that was the comment.
Samuel Gargan on Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
In the Legislative Assembly on March 14th, 1994. See this statement in context.
Bill 1: Appropriation Act, No. 2, 1994-95
Item 18: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
March 13th, 1994
Page 580
Samuel Gargan Deh Cho
See context to find out what was said next.