This is page numbers 1279 - 1309 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 7th Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was education.

Topics

Opening Of Regional Visitors' Centre In Inuvik
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1282

Fred Koe Inuvik

Qujannamiik, Mr. Speaker. The people I would like to thank are the weathermen, for the good day we had; Lloyd Binder and his staff from Economic Development and Tourism; Billy Day and the Inuvik Community Corporation; Willard Hagen and the Gwich'in Tribal Council; the elders and youth who participated in the ribbon-cutting ceremonies; the people who prepared the food; Andrea Camerand and the staff of the visitors' centre; Mike Tryon and members of the Western Arctic Tourism Association; the Inuvik Delta drummers and dancers; Ruby McLeod's East Three Wheelers; and, the Inuvik Choral and Theatrical Society. I would also like to thank Premier Cournoyea for attending and participating in the opening ceremonies.

I would like to give special mention also to Gordie Campbell for making the dedication to the bush pilots of the Beaufort/Delta area. One of the displays outside of the centre is a real airplane. I believe it is a Cessna 170A airplane, which was owned and operated by Freddy Carmichael of Reindeer Air Services. This airplane is mounted on a swivel and anchored so that the plane can move into whatever direction the wind is blowing. It is something to see. Congratulations go to all the bush pilots who were pioneers in aviation and helped to develop the north.

For everyone else whom I did not mention today, I, on behalf of the people of Inuvik and region, wish to congratulate you on a job well done and a visitors' centre which we should all be proud of. Mahsi.

---Applause

Opening Of Regional Visitors' Centre In Inuvik
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1282

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Mr. Allooloo.

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today to talk about the challenges we face as northern people and safety on the land. This is a great time of year to be out on the land. At least back home, the fish are running. The char are going out to see. Snow geese are nesting. Murres and ducks are coming back to nest on the cliffs. The young seals are sunbathing on the ice and people are whale hunting out on the floe. School is out in most of the communities and families are heading out in spring and summer camps.

Unfortunately, Mr. Speaker, too many accidents are happening every year that could be avoided. Mr. Speaker, I would like to caution everyone to be careful while enjoying the traditional activities out on the land and outdoors, particularly at this time of year when the weather can be deceiving. It can be a warm and sunny day, but the water is extremely cold. Hypothermia can happen very quickly, as I found out last weekend when I was out in my kayak. Most of the time, Mr. Speaker, I can get up again. But I was shocked to discover how cold the water is when you tip over. My body went numb. Thankfully, I was wearing a lifejacket and I was travelling with experienced paddlers who rescued me before I was overcome by the cold water. It took the rest of the day for my body to warm itself.

Accidents can be prevented, Mr. Speaker, if people take time to prepare before heading out. People must remember to let other people know where they are going and when they expect to return. Travellers on the land must learn to anticipate dangerous situations and avoid them at all costs. Back home when hunting along the floe, the ice sometimes breaks off. The hunters find themselves...Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude.

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Back home when hunting along the floe, the ice sometimes breaks off. The hunters find themselves adrift on the ocean. An experienced hunter knows exactly what to do in this situation. Traditional knowledge will tell you to avoid the situation that could leave you adrift in the Arctic Ocean. An experienced person or hunter could be in great danger in this situation.

Mr. Speaker, being on the land will always involve a certain amount of danger, but if we draw upon the knowledge of our elders, who have been here longer than we have, as well as taking advantage of new technology that can be found today, we and our families will enjoy many accident-free days on the land, whether that be an overnight camping trip or pursuing traditional lifestyles many miles away from our home community. I wish those people who are going out on the land and doing their traditional activities a very successful trip. Thank you.

---Applause

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Allooloo. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Antoine.

Successful Trip Of Ed&t Minister To Nahendeh
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1283

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this past weekend was a very eventful one for me in the constituency I represent, which is Nahendeh.

The Honourable John Todd and his staff travelled with me into Nahendeh this past weekend, June 9th to 11th. We visited Fort Simpson, Nahanni Butte, Fort Liard and Trout Lake. In Fort Simpson, Mr. Speaker, on Friday we had meetings with the village council, the band councils and held public meetings. Individual meetings were also held with people who had concerns about the business situations. I think it was a very successful visit we had in Fort Simpson.

On Saturday, Mr. Speaker, Mr. Todd and staff, along with the board members of the NWT Development Corporation, travelled to Nahanni Butte to meet with people and view construction of a new building that is taking place there. This new building will have a store, hotel rooms, a coffee shop and a place to clean up, like showers and so forth. This is a joint venture between the NWT Development Corporation and the Nahanni Butte Development Corporation.

This is a major step for the people of Nahanni Butte. They got work from Economic Development, with the help of this development corporation. This building is going to be able to help them in a way that it hasn't before, Mr. Speaker. For many years, tourists have been travelling by this community, coming out of the Nahanni National Park, and now they have a reason to stop. This way, the people from the community will have the opportunity to benefit from the economic

opportunities that exist there. So I think it was a very satisfying visit there.

Later that day, Mr. Speaker, we travelled on to Fort Liard where we had official openings of a number of buildings -- a gas bar and convenience store and a new craft shop for the Acho-Dene crafts business -- as well as viewing a new firehall that was built there.

The new crafts shop was built with the help of the NWT Development Corporation. Fort Liard has made a name for itself in the past, and they have been very successful in marketing their own products. Mr. Speaker, I have run out of time. I am seeking unanimous consent to finish my statement.

Successful Trip Of Ed&t Minister To Nahendeh
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1283

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Nahendeh is seeking unanimous consent. Do we have any nays? There are no nays. Go ahead, Mr. Antoine.

Successful Trip Of Ed&t Minister To Nahendeh
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1283

Jim Antoine Nahendeh

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Like I was saying, in Fort Liard, the people there have made a successful name for themselves in the fine arts and crafts that they produce there. The most known item is the birch bark basket. The facilities that they were using were old facilities with no running water and no washing facilities, but they were able to make a good name for themselves in that type of facility. With this new, modern facility, it will give them a better chance of success.

So, with this new facility and the continued efforts of the people of Fort Liard, their success is going to be very real. I would like to thank the Minister and his department and the NWT Development Corporation for their help in this area. Later on, the social events that followed in Fort Liard were enjoyed by all.

On a serious note, Mr. Speaker, in visiting all these communities and in seeing all these various economic development opportunities that exist, there is still a real need for an economic development conference to take place in the Deh Cho region. I have spoken in the House in the past and I do so today. There is definitely a need, more than ever, to get the people of the region together to talk about the possible economic development opportunities that exist and a plan of action that could be developed from such a conference.

It was a very rewarding weekend, Mr. Speaker, and for the people of the communities and myself to see their ideas and their work and effort coming to a reality with the construction and completion of all these projects. Without the support from the Government of the Northwest Territories and the Members of this Legislative Assembly, this could not have become a reality. So I would like to thank the Members here, on behalf of the people of Nahendeh, for their support. Mahsi.

---Applause

Successful Trip Of Ed&t Minister To Nahendeh
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1283

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 3, Members' statements. Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Sister Sutherland's Book On Bishop Piche
Item 3: Members' Statements

June 12th, 1995

Page 1283

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to express my sincere congratulations to Sister Agnes Sutherland on her completion of writing her third book, The Bishop Who Cared: A Legacy of Leadership. Mr. Speaker, her

first book was a souvenir album in 1984 on Bishop Piche and her second book was Living Kindness on Madeline Bird.

Sister Sutherland is well known to many northerners as being an advocate for the disabled and the homeless. In addition to creating the first home for an abuse shelter, she takes the time to write books. Sister Sutherland wrote about Bishop Piche in her first book, on his silver jubilee as a Bishop but golden anniversary in the priesthood.

He was accepted by the oblate congregation of Mary Immaculate, which is the OMI, in 1932, and as a priest in 1934. In March 1959, he was appointed Bishop of the Mackenzie. Bishop Piche was born in 1909 and, as I said, ordained as a priest in 1934. He retired in February 1986 after being our Bishop for many years. He passed away in September 1992. The late Bishop Piche now rests in the crypt of the same cathedral, St. Joseph's Cathedral, in Fort Smith.

Sister Sutherland this Saturday will be launching the book, The Bishop Who Cared: A Legacy of Leadership. She has also created nice placemats made out of the book's cover and is attempting to get them fixed so they will be ready for the launching this weekend.

Mr. Speaker, I would also like to take the time to thank the individual who suggested the title, The Bishop Who Cared, who is Anita Dube; and the subtitle, A Legacy of Leadership, who is George Tuccaro. Bishop Piche believed strongly in education, particularly opportunities of education for the native people in the north. I want to quote a couple of points from the book, and I quote from Anita Dube's assessment of Bishop Piche, where she said, and I quote: "There...". I apologize, Mr. Speaker. I seek unanimous consent to continue with my statement.

Sister Sutherland's Book On Bishop Piche
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1284

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

The Member for Thebacha is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Are there any nays? There are no nays. Conclude your statement, Mrs. Marie-Jewell.

Sister Sutherland's Book On Bishop Piche
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1284

Jeannie Marie-Jewell Thebacha

Thank you. I quote from Anita Dube's assessment of Bishop Piche, and it reads: "There is so much goodness about him. His caring and love of the poor was outstanding. He was also a good listener to anyone who needed to be heard." Another quote from Louise Fraser: "He never missed coming to the health centre to visit the sick and those who could no longer get around."

Mr. Speaker, many people believed that this book should be dedicated to the Grey Nuns and the Oblate Fathers and Brothers, which I fully agree with. Those individuals were Helen Daniels, Anita Dube, Jeannie and Oral Dube, Emelia Gratrix, Charles Issoluk, Rene and Georgina Mercredi, Martha Mercredi, Elsie Yanik, Jo Jo Mercredi, Louise Fraser, Rosalie Dempsey and Karen Price.

Mr. Speaker, I want to take the time not only to congratulate Sister Sutherland but thank the individuals who participated in the Bishop Paul Piche Memoir Committee, who are Pat Burke, Helena Mandeville, Shirley Vandenberghe and John Vogt for all

their work in being able to produce such a beautiful book. Thank you.

---Applause

Sister Sutherland's Book On Bishop Piche
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1284

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mrs. Marie-Jewell. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Nerysoo.

Western Arctic Regional Visitors' Centre In Inuvik
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1284

Richard Nerysoo Mackenzie Delta

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, had the opportunity to attend the opening of the Western Arctic Visitors' Centre in Inuvik.

Mr. Speaker, I want to pay additional tribute to Chief James Firth, Willard Hagen, who is the president of the Gwich'in Tribal Council, and to Danny Lennie, who was involved on behalf of the Inuvialuit. I think it was as a result of their persistence that the Western Arctic Visitors' Centre became a reality.

It also, Mr. Speaker, shows that with good planning and good cooperation, aboriginal peoples can cooperate and collaborate in a very successful project and encourage and recommend to our Cabinet Members that the approaches that they are suggesting would be very constructive. I want to say, Mr. Speaker, that the information that has been provided and displayed is a reflection of the advice of many of my constituents from Inuvik, Fort McPherson and Aklavik or Tsiigehtchic, and also as a result of advice from many other people from the Beaufort and Mackenzie Delta region.

So, Mr. Speaker, I wanted to congratulate all those who were involved in this particular project. I know that having seen this display and the information that is provided, I can say that in my term as Minister and as a Member of this Assembly, I've had an opportunity to travel to many other visitors' centres across the Northwest Territories and this is by far, I believe, one of the most informative displays of any region in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Western Arctic Regional Visitors' Centre In Inuvik
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1284

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you. Item 3, Member's statements. Mr. Whitford.

Retirement Of Teacher Jean Paul Grimard
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1284

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Thank you, Mr. Speaker, colleagues. This past weekend, on Saturday, I had the opportunity to represent the Honourable Richard Nerysoo at a retirement get together for Jean Paul Grimard. Jean Paul Grimard was a school teacher, very well-known in the Fort Smith area. He taught math, physics and computers at the JB Tyrrell School and the PW Kaeser High School. He's been a teacher in the north for 30 years. He came from Prud'homme, Saskatchewan. He is from a French-Canadian family, one of 11 boys and girls from that family.

He took up teaching and for his first teaching assignment, he was interviewed by Gordon Devitt to go teach in the Baffin. In the interview, Mr. Devitt asked him what religion he was and he said he was Catholic. He replied that he couldn't work in the Baffin because they were all Protestant and he had to go to the west, so he went to Fort Smith, which was our good fortune.

He was very well-known in the community and he tutored a lot of students in the off hours. He taught during the day but if you needed any help with math, physics or computers, he was always there to help. Mr. Speaker, you will probably recall that I was at the adult school there later on in my life, trying to get my grade 12 so I could go to university. I needed some help in math and Mr. Grimard was right there to pitch in. I had the pleasure of being a student of his for a short period of time and, just recently, my son was also tutored by him, too.

When I talked on behalf of the Minister, I told the people there about his life and there were a good number of people from Fort Smith at the reception. They rose to give him a standing ovation for his 30 years of dedication to the Government of the Northwest Territories and the people of the Northwest Territories as a teacher. These days, it's very rare to have that kind of commitment. I would certainly like to say, on behalf of the people I represent, thank you to Mr. Grimard for his long service.

---Applause

Retirement Of Teacher Jean Paul Grimard
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1285

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

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

Passage Of Bill C-68
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1285

Kenoayoak Pudlat Baffin South

(Translation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I rise today with regard to the proposed gun control legislation, Bill C-68. As we heard, this will finally be dealt with by the Government of Canada. We have proposed quite a few amendments to this proposed bill and tried, as best we can, to represent the views of our constituents, whether they are aboriginal or non-aboriginal. It has been quite hard to get through to the people who are dealing with this bill, the great impact that will be felt by northerners, especially by our hunters. With hunting being our way of life, we have survived with subsistence hunting from the time of our ancestors.

Today, as we try our best to reflect the views of our constituents, sometimes it is quite hard to be heard by the federal government. I hope that at least some of our views will be included in the amendments to Bill C-68, especially the more serious concerns. I hope they are being dealt with. However, I would like to extend my apologies to our constituents because some of our views were not heard by the federal government task force and the MPs. It is our hope that the implementation of this proposed bill is delayed for the north. It is unfortunate that it was quite confusing for the people of the north to understand the happenings throughout the discussions on this bill. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to voice my concern on this. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause

Passage Of Bill C-68
Item 3: Members' Statements

Page 1285

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Thank you, Mr. Pudlat. Item 3, Members' statements. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Ms. Mike.

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1285

Rebecca Mike Baffin Central

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I'm very pleased to recognize Tim Dialla from Pangnirtung. He's the fire chief and foreman of the hamlet of Pangnirtung. As well, he is the JP and coroner. Thank you.

---Applause

Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery
Item 5: Recognition Of Visitors In The Gallery

Page 1285

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. I missed one item here, item 4. Item 4, returns to oral questions. Mr. Arngna'naaq.

Return To Question 547-12(7): Regulations Re Cleaning Of Caribou Carcasses
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1285

Silas Arngna'naaq Kivallivik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a return to an oral question asked by Mr. Whitford on June 8, 1995 regarding regulations re cleaning of caribou carcasses.

Mr. Speaker, the Wildlife Act and regulations are silent with respect to how and where wild animals are cleaned. Attempting to impose regulations on this activity would be extremely difficult to enforce, simply because of the length of the Ingraham Trail and other highways in the Northwest Territories.

The Motor Vehicles Act, subsection 232.(1), makes it an offence to "litter" highways. The intent of this section is to ensure safety for motorists. A frozen gut pile, hide or head is obviously a hazard to them. Hunters are expected to use common sense and to clean their animals where the animal is killed or in the nearest appropriate place. The department encourages people to do this and will continue to do so. If this was done, few gut piles would end up on the roads and in ditches. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Return To Question 547-12(7): Regulations Re Cleaning Of Caribou Carcasses
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions
Item 4: Returns To Oral Questions

Page 1285

The Speaker Samuel Gargan

Item 4, returns to oral questions. Item 5, recognition of visitors in the gallery. Item 6, oral questions. Mr. Ballantyne.

Michael Ballantyne Yellowknife North

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is for the Minister of Transportation. The Minister is aware that the Ingraham Trail is the most travelled road in the Northwest Territories. There are tourists, people from Dettah, cottagers, day users from the Yellowknife area, and in the wintertime, the mine is supplied.

Recently, I've had some complaints about the condition of the road. I would like to ask the Minister if he would ensure his staff has a look at the road and make sure that the road is put up to the highest standard possible. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Laughter