Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Good afternoon. Orders of the day. Item 2, Ministers' statements. Mr. Arlooktoo.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as Minister responsible for the Northwest Territories Housing Corporation, I have committed to keeping Members informed of this government's efforts in increasing our housing stock in the NWT. Therefore, Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to be able to update this Assembly, once again, on the progress of the NWT Housing Corporation's Plan 2000 initiative.

As you will recall, I introduced this initiative earlier this year to improve the housing conditions for up to 2000 families by the year 2000. The initiative has indeed expanded the delivery of housing assistance from the range of 300 to 400 families a year to 648 families this year. Under Plan 2000, the corporation is helping more families become home owners as well as upgrading or replacing homes in the social housing portfolio.

Mr. Speaker, while Plan 2000 represents a significant increase in the corporation's program delivery, it by no means represents all of the projects which the corporation is funding this year. In total, the corporation will be undertaking over 1,000 projects of all types in 1997-98. In addition to directly improving the living conditions for our residents, Plan 2000 also has a positive impact upon our economy. By expanding the number of projects undertaken this year, Plan 2000 is creating additional construction jobs in communities. I am extremely pleased and proud of the fact that Plan 2000 is on target. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Mr. Ng.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, over the past two years, the Department of Health and Social Services and our regional boards, while working to maintain current levels of programs and services to the people of the NWT, have struggled to assist this government to balance the budget. At the same time, the population and demand for services have increased, making our task even more difficult.

During this time, we were also beginning the much needed shift away from what had become, for the most part, an exclusive focus on treatment. The department and boards are now developing an approach that is more pro-active and prevention oriented. Mr. Speaker, we need to do a better job of getting to the underlying or root causes of the problems that face our residents. For example, with respect to alcohol and drug abuse, we have tended to treat the addiction, and to deal with the tragic outcomes of that abuse such as suicides, FAS/FAE, and violent crimes.

We need to move beyond just dealing with treatment, and address the underlying causes that lead to addiction. To do that, we need to strengthen our ability to support counselling and healing, in the community. Even as boards and the department took the tough steps to reduce costs, the pressures of forced growth continued to build. These demands, primarily for treatment, will continue to grow, as prevention efforts take time to show results. In order to make a difference over time, we need to make investments now, with new funds dedicated to prevention activities.

Mr. Speaker, the Strategic Initiatives Fund allows boards the opportunity to address the need for greater activity in prevention, education, and support for the residents they serve. It allows them to do this without having to cut into existing programs and services.

This fund calls for Health and Social Service boards to initiate re-investments in the following critical areas:

1. healthy children,

2. mental health,

3. public health,

4. supported living and

5. human resources.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow I will provide more detail about these areas and what we hope to accomplish in each.

Strategic Initiative Fund allows each board to focus on their own priorities and come up with plans to meet the needs of their own regions.

Mr. Speaker, I would like to add that while this funding gives much needed relief to the system, it is only the beginning. In time we will begin to see the benefits of prevention on future generations; when our children are adults and begin their quest to protect their children. This investment and its subsequent results are just one element in our overall effort to improve the long-term socio-economic status of northerners. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Ministers' statements. Item 3, Members' statements. Mr. Miltenberger.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Rabesca.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the topic of moosehide. Moose hide is the pride of the Dene culture. It is the source of traditional life for aboriginals. It is used for survival, ceremonies and festivities. The moose is a majestic animal and has been a symbol of economic survival in the Dene culture for generations. As the world around it has changed, the moose has adapted to its surroundings. In this, it is very similar the Dene of the north.

Mr. Speaker, anybody in the north, the Americas, or the world, will take notice of someone who is wearing their traditional aboriginal clothing. For the Dene, this clothing will usually involve the use of moosehide. Today, the practice of wearing traditional clothing, such as jackets, moccasins, mukluks or gloves and mittens, is not something we see in everyday life.

One concern to me, as I am sure it is to others, is the shortage of raw materials to make our traditional clothing. Mr. Speaker, I am not saying that moose is an endangered species. However, I do say the endangerment is that Dene people have fallen out of the traditional practice of using all parts of the moose. It seems that the meat is taken while the hide and other non-edible parts are being discarded.

Mr. Speaker, it takes a lot of time, effort and skill to treat a moosehide for use in clothing. Fortunately, everything needed for this treatment is found in the moose itself. Bones can be boiled down and the liquid used to soften the hide. The shinbone of the moose is a perfect tool to scrap the hide and the sinew can be used as thread. The moose provides us with everything we need to continue producing our traditional clothing.

This, Mr. Speaker, leads me to my second concern. The lack of interest in our young people to wear our traditional clothing, let alone learning how to produce these beautiful pieces of art. When I was younger, children used to take pride in receiving products made out of moosehide. They would be given at special times, like Easter, Christmas or in the summer holidays.

Today, Mr. Speaker, it disturbs and saddens me when I see the younger generation taking more pride in a jacket with a company or sports logo than in a moosehide vest. I urge this younger generation to look more closely at our traditional clothing and the pride that goes into making it. To look at what this clothing means to the continuation of our culture and traditions. A tradition this younger generation will be the guardians of one day. A tradition they will have to carry on or it will die out with the older generation. No one, Mr. Speaker, can correct this situation, or save our traditions, other than the people to whom the tradition belongs. Thank you Mr. Speaker.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mrs. Groenewegen.

Your time is up, Mrs. Groenewegen.

The Member for Hay River is seeking unanimous consent to conclude her statement. Do we have any nays? Mrs. Groenewegen, you have unanimous consent to conclude your statement.

Thank you, Mrs. Groenewegen. Members' statements. Mr. Evaloarjuk.

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Ootes.

Thank you. Members' statements. Ms. Thompson.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I will be tabling a letter from the mayor of Coral Harbour, Johnny Ningeongan to James Arvaluk, carbon copied to Jose Kusugak and Raymond Ningeocheak in regard to the Hunter Support Program. (Translation) Mr. Speaker, there is a concern in our community about the Hunter Support Program and how these funds are being spent. I have a letter from Johnny Ningeongan and addressed to the Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated. Their concern is how the Hunter Support Program funds are being used. This is a concern from my constituency. I have also received calls from other communities regarding this concern as to how their funds are being used. This letter is to the NTI. Thank you. (Translation ends)

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Erasmus.

Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak about the United Nations representative Alfonso Martinez, who is at the Hay River Reserve this week to speak about and listen to people's interpretations of treaties and their rights. He will be making a report to the United Nations Working Group on Indigenous Populations. Mr. Speaker, a special rapporteur's report could have very serious implications for aboriginal peoples and for the governments which are dealing with aboriginal peoples. The purpose of his report and investigation is to see what treaties mean, if they are international agreements and which rights stem from them.

Mr. Speaker, a previous report on self-determination done by the United Nations led to Canada declaring that aboriginal people have inherent right of self-determination. It also led to the establishment of a working group which is developing the draft United Nations Declaration on Rights of Indigenous Peoples. The working group reports to the United Nations Human Rights Commission. The draft declaration has huge implications. All members of United Nations are supposed to follow United Nations directions and Canada is a member. After the previous report on self-determination which said that all peoples have the right to self-determination, Canada declared that aboriginal people have the inherent right to self-determination and began to implement their policy. Later Canada also made a presentation to the working group working on the Declaration on Rights of Indigenous People. At that point, they put forward a document that said aboriginal people have the right to self-determination as long as that self-determination respects the territorial integrity. Meaning, no right to secession.

Mr. Speaker, students of treaties and treaty rights such as myself, are quite interested to see what the report will say. Mr. Speaker, we are even more interested to see what occurs afterwards, as a result of the report. Thank you.

--Applause

Thank you. Members' statements. Mr. Krutko.