Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, the point that we heard very clearly from our deliberations was in terms of respecting the use of the aboriginal languages in sensitive issues like this and the culture and the emotional state of some of these families and communities that are being dealt with in this manner. Madam Chair, there are certain practices by social services and child protection workers that, at times, require them to have our people, especially the families, understand what's really happening, haven't been communicated through their language. Sometimes the language barrier there causes some further hardships and grief and further stress on the families. So, Madam Chair, we want to give the recommendations to the government to use the First Nations language when they are dealing with issues like this and that they make every possible means of supporting resources to the families here in terms of how they deal with children, how they deal with mothers and taking into account the cultural background of the aboriginal people. Sometimes if you ask if they want something, they won't say yes. Sometimes they won't even ask. They will say the workers didn't ask or people didn't ask for it and they won't ask for it. You have to take cultural sensitivity and cultural understanding of the parents in communities.
Norman Yakeleya on Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
In the Legislative Assembly on May 17th, 2007. See this statement in context.
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
Item 20: Consideration In Committee Of The Whole Of Bills And Other Matters
May 17th, 2007
Page 297
See context to find out what was said next.