Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We do have some information on that, and I will ask the deputy minister to explain that.
Debates of June 29th, 2000
This is page numbers 295 - 364 of the Hansard for the 14th Assembly, 3rd 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 communities.
Topics
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Cleveland
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. After the question yesterday in the House, we researched the question that was asked by the Member. In fact, we do consider Metis in the allocation. We examine Metis that are in the individual communities and include them in the calculation for purposes of the allocation.
Secondly, just as a related matter, with respect to the South Slave in particular, we have, as well, encouraged discussions between Metis organizations and both the Cree and Chipewayan language groups, to ensure there is good cooperation in those areas. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. So it is not the case of being registered Indians and registered Inuvialuit, based on the 1996 Census. You are indicating to me that you have consulted with the Metis locals in the South Slave. You are saying then that there are, between registered Indians and Metis, 2,208 aboriginal people, Chipewayan or Metis in the South Slave?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Cleveland
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We do use the census figures in the case of settled claims areas. We use specific enrolment data. What we have done is take the census calculations with respect to Metis, in the respective communities and using the numbers that are identified in the census, we have added them to the Dene and/or Inuvialuit numbers for those particular communities.
So Metis are represented in combination with the Dene. For example, in the community of Hay River or in the community of Fort Smith, Lutselk'e, that sort of thing. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Michael Miltenberger Thebacha
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Then could I presume that any further correspondence in regard to funding for language communities, especially where there is significant Metis population, will reflect the fact that they are in there and not left out?
The other thing is, given the questions and concerns, could the Minister provide me with the more detailed breakdown for aboriginal community funding levels for 2000-2001 that would indicate, to me, so that I could see how they added the Metis population and mixed them in with the Dene population to get the numbers they have?
The indication I had yesterday talking to the President of the South Slave Metis Tribal Council, Mr. Harrington, was that they were not included. I received the same information from Mrs. Biscaye, who is doing some work for the Akaitcho territory on their Chipewayan language strategy.
So there seems to be some confusion here, and I would appreciate the information so that I could sort through that and make sense of the situation. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Yes, we will get the information that is available and provide it to the Member.
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
One quick one, Mr. Chairman. It is frustrating to go over a budget and ask for things and get the response that we do not have enough resources. I would like to suggest that we sit down. I spoke with another longstanding Member of the House during the break, and the only way we are going to change the budget to reflect the needs of our communities is to start a planning process. Once you complete those plans, then adjust the budget accordingly.
I would recommend to the House, to all Members, that we start that process very soon, and I would encourage and request some kind of commitment from the Minister to do just that. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you. This is part of a broader area that involves the Department of Finance, the Financial Management Board Secretariat, Mr. Chairman. We do produce business plans, and we ask for input from those particular committees on our business plans.
The Member, I believe, has an opportunity to discuss that with the particular committee in terms of our department where he may see where priorities should lie, and discuss that with the Standing Committee on Social Programs. It becomes that sort of process, so that all Members have an opportunity to have input. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. It is great that we have committees that review the books, but I would suggest that by the time the books arrive to us, the money is already spoken for. We are just approving and questioning here and there. We do not have the time to really dissect the budgets to make a big difference, and if we do, it takes another long process.
We have $6.4 million. This government has been in operation for 33 years in the Northwest Territories alone. In that time, we have not increased our education level. Our languages are going down. It is not working, Mr. Chairman.
We have to have fundamental changes in the way we approach things and that takes planning. That takes sitting down and really planning and adjusting our budgets accordingly, not based on the last 33 years, but based on what we know we need in the future.
It is frustrating sitting here looking at these statistics. Every negative statistic in this book has an aboriginal name associated with it. It is very frustrating. If I am going to feel like I am contributing, I need to feel like I am planning, I am starting from the beginning, because the plans in the past have not worked, Mr. Chairman.
All I am asking is for a commitment from the Minister to look at ways towards solving those problems in a fundamentally different way. That is all I am asking for, at this point. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair David Krutko
The Minister responsible for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Ootes.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, I am there to listen to the Members' suggestions and comments. I will consider those, and certainly be sensitive to what is being said. Once plans need to be put together, we try to work together with the committees. We try to get feedback from the committees, and it is the individual Members who can provide input into that as well. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Steven Nitah Tu Nedhe
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, it is like trying to squeeze the last drop out of a bottle, in trying to get a commitment from the Minister here. What I am asking for is a fundamentally different way of approaching the issues that are faced by the people of the Northwest Territories, specifically the aboriginal community. If I cannot get a commitment out of him today, I will have to approach it from a different angle another day, Mr. Chairman. Thank you.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Nitah. Just a comment on the review. It has been quite some time since we have had such things as the Language Bureau, which is no longer there. Are there any plans to look at a review in the area of aboriginal languages?
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Jake Ootes Yellowknife Centre
Thank you, Mr. Chairman. We are working right now with the aboriginal language communities on a strategy. We have had extensive feedback on that. The Language Strategy is developing. There will be a review of the Language Bill, I understand, within the next year. There are opportunities to look at that.
Also, the school planning and resource committee, Mr. Chairman, is looking at areas of need and is developing and working on plans. That is an ongoing basis. That particular committee was formed last year, to the best of my understanding. Thank you.
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The Chair David Krutko
Thank you, Mr. Ootes. That is helpful. General comments? Detail? We are on page 9-19, education and culture, grants and contributions, grants, contributions, $52,000.
Item 19: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
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Some Hon. Members
Agreed.