Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I will start by quoting from the Northwest Territories Economic Strategy document called Common Ground, developed by a panel of our brightest from the Northwest Territories:
"In the year 2025, our communities are healthy and family life is strong. People have a strong sense of personal identity, respect one another, are proud of their cultures and speak their own languages. They are well housed, live independent lives, and have an appropriate range of services to help them when they are in need."
This was under the heading of vision and principles. These individuals are looking ahead in what they see. I say that education will be the backbone that will get us there.
In my campaign, subsequent readings and Assemblies with my colleagues of the House, we identified education as the number one priority. With the retention problems with our educators, and with our health professionals, I think education is that much more important. Especially in the small, predominantly aboriginal communities.
With cutbacks in adult basic education, and so on, and cutbacks in this and that, it is going to be more difficult to hire our own aboriginal professionals in this sector. We find problems in the communities where teachers do not stay long. There does not seem to be a relationship between teachers and students, which is very important to the development of individual kids.
It costs this government a lot of money in recruiting, transportation, et cetera. I think the department should very soon, or even during the summer break, develop a strategy that will make it easier on everyone involved at the smaller community level to be educated, to educate, or to participate in the educational process.
To that end, I would like to propose that the department develop a strategy of how that can be done in consultation with education authorities, parents, and teachers, both those who are present and those who are leaving.
Cross-cultural training is greatly needed in our communities for all professionals, especially educators. Many times, teachers leave because of frustration and not understanding the culture. Parents are not participating because they do not understand the western philosophies and cultures. We already pointed out that a large percentage of our population has grade 9 or less. That is going to contribute to that and it is going to continue if we do not do anything about it.
I think developing cross-cultural training that specifies the roles and responsibilities of not only teachers, but administrators of the schools, the students, the parents, community leaders. Once a strategy like this is in place, have a workshop during the first week of school. Lay out the whole year, come up with strategic goals for each class and each student, as some of the schools are very small, and I think we could do that, and set achievable goals.
Many of the problems I see in the area of retention for teachers have to do with finances. The cost of living in the communities, rent, et cetera. Many times it is not understanding the people in the communities. Students do not really get to know their teachers. When I was going through school in Lutselk'e, I spent a lot of time on the land. I was fortunate that there was an educator in the community by the name of Mr. Robert Biide, who was also an educator in Fort Simpson. It was his guidance and attention to my predicament and understanding of it that brought me along to a point where I was able to leave Lutselk'e and go to Akaitcho Hall and do well.
Now, I do not see the same teachers in the community year after year. I think there needs to be an innovative and proactive way of thinking, to try something different. The current system does not seem to work. In my community of Lutselk'e, five teachers have resigned this year. Some of it is for financial reasons, but mostly because of a lack of understanding and community involvement on all levels; teachers, students, administrators, parents. I think developing some sort of strategy to address that very fundamental problem would go a long way in the department.
I am willing to introduce a motion if that will assist you, Mr. Minister. The Minister could respond to this, or not. It is his prerogative. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.