Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to discuss an inquiry into the residential school abuses in the Northwest Territories. Mr. Speaker, there has been an outpouring of aboriginal people coming forward in recent years with claims of having been abused while in the care of residential schools in the NWT. The issue of abuse in residential schools is not isolated to the NWT, it is a widespread topic of concern throughout Canada and the United States. Several groups have recommended that a public inquiry be held into the abuse that took place in residential schools saying that a public inquiry would be beneficial for the victims and for the general public of the Northwest Territories. Some of those are the Sir Joseph Bernier Federal Day School, Turquetil Hall Investigation in 1994, the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples in 1996, the NWT Native Women's Association, August, 1998, the Metis Nation of Northwest Territories, September, 1998, and the Law Commission of Canada, October, 1998.
Mr. Speaker, the NWT Public Inquiries Act allows the Commissioner to establish a public inquiry in to any matter of public concern. The Commissioner may appoint one or more persons to a board to carry out the inquiry and to report its findings to the Commissioner. The words of the RCAP final report and inquiry would enable aboriginal people to do what is necessary to stand in dignity, to voice their sorrow and anger and to be listened to with respect. Although a federal public inquiry has been called for, there is an important role for a public inquiry specific to the Northwest Territories. A national public inquiry could not be expected to devote sufficient time and attention to NWT issues. Its recommendations for action would not take into account the unique nature of the north and its people. Only in the north has a residential school system affected such a large proportion of the population. By hearing the experiences of others, individuals and families affected by residential schools may lose some of their sense of shame and may feel more able to come forward and access the funds that have been made available for healing by the federal government. Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.