Mr. Speaker, I have a return to written question asked by Mr. Yakeleya on October 25, 2005, regarding treaty/land claim school instruction.
1. What are the grade levels in the Sahtu schools where students are taught about treaties 8 and 11 and the Sahtu land claim?
Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a document including a chart of Sahtu schools and what they are teaching about Dene history throughout the kindergarten to Grade 12 levels. In particular, the chart will provide information on the NWT Social Studies curriculum for grades 4, 5, 6, 7 and 9 levels including a requirement to teach about Treaties 8 and 11 in Northern Studies.
In the Northern Studies 10 curriculum, treaties and land claims make up one complete module of the course, with the option for teachers and students to expand the students' exploration in the topics noted in the table within a second module.
2. What is the percentage of the courses on treaties or land claims that are taught per grade?
This question relates to teaching practice in the classroom and the amount of time spent on these topics. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table a chart identifying the amount of time allocated by community school. Percentages are approximates as the time spent on these topics varies depending on the manner in which the subject is taught.
3. Can the department list the resources/documents that are used in teaching the students about the treaties or the land claim in Sahtu schools?
The department provides resources and documents produced to support both the study and actual teaching of the treaties and individual land claims. The department has provided all schools with the NWT History Timeline and Teaching Resource that has a component devoted to Treaties 8 and 11. The Education, Culture and Employment web site -- http://www.ece.gov.nt.ca/ -- includes many documents that teachers and resource persons can use in preparing to teach about treaties and the Sahtu land claims. In addition, schools have found the resources listed in a table that, later today, at the appropriate time, I will table.
4. Who are the teachers or community members used in teaching the treaties or the land claim in Sahtu schools?
Schools and communities choose the appropriate resource people to help teachers and students explore issues such as land claims and treaties. Teachers involve elders and other community resources in conjunction with the curriculum as noted in a chart that later today, at the appropriate time, I will table. In addition, teachers are planning to invite speakers including the chief negotiator for the self-government negotiations in Deline, the chief in Tulita, staff from local Dene and Metis organizations and other experts including elders.
5. How much of the social studies content is on the Treaty 11 and the Sahtu land claims?
The school curriculum includes references to Treaty 11. Teachers can explore issues of significance to their communities including study of the treaties.
According to the revision of the social studies curriculum for grades K to 12 that is currently underway, references to specific treaties are likely to be made in all schools at the grade 4, 5, 7, 9 and 11 levels.
6. How many elders in the Sahtu have been invited to Aurora College, our learning centres, or our schools as professors or instructors specifically to provide instruction on aboriginal courses?
Elders are regularly invited to Aurora College community learning centres, other college institutions and to schools. Later today, at the appropriate time, I will table information on the inclusion of elders who share their knowledge and expertise, traditional and otherwise. Numbers refer to all elders involved locally at the college and/or school levels, unless specified otherwise.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.