Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Good morning. The schools in the Northwest Territories are an early example of community empowerment. In fact, communities are encouraged to take significant control in what happens in the schools. Therefore, developing the sort of program within the school that the Member has talked about is quite possible. Many of the aspects of the programs he talks about, in terms of traditional life skills or land claims knowledge, could be worked into current school programs. If the local DEA works with the school staff to ensure that through programs like the CTS modules or the social studies course and using, the Dene Kede curriculum, these aspects are worked into the regular program during the school year.
If the Member feels, and the community feels, that it is essential to have a separate curriculum, that too can be accomplished. We have had one example of a divisional educational council developing a specific land skills program or curriculum. That was in the Kitikmeot. A fox-trapping curriculum was developed. With that program, the divisional educational council took the lead to develop the curriculum. They were supported by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment as well as the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development. So the first step if the community is interested in that kind of curriculum, is for the community to discuss the issue with the divisional education council. If a way cannot be found to work the program into the current curriculum and the divisional educational council is prepared to take the lead, I am sure we can find some way to support them to develop a specific curriculum.