Mr. Speaker, this is a significant day for the Northwest Territories. Today, for the first time at any northern correctional facility, Commissioner Marie Wilson of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission is at the North Slave Correctional Centre to acknowledge residential school experiences, impacts and consequences.
Over the next several days, inmates can give individual statements to contribute to the historical records the commission is gathering on the legacy of residential schools.
People who have been through residential school, or have suffered from the devastating effects on their family, far too frequently have also been in front of our community justice committees, our courtrooms, or have been sentenced to our correctional facilities. Today many of these inmates will take another step in their journeys to heal.
As I mentioned to the Assembly in June, we have worked closely with Health Canada to ensure our inmates have the support they need through their healing process. This support has also been provided for the staff to ensure they have the right skills to help inmates and can address their own self-care.
Each inmate will have a plan in place for continuing care from our staff at North Slave Correctional Centre, the residential school care specialists working with Health Canada, and our partners in Health and Social Services. Support is essential for success in healing. We started providing this support before the statement-taking process, and will continue when inmates return to their home communities.
The people who are in North Slave Correctional Centre may have had a more difficult route than most.
To those who are adding their stories to the official record this week, we applaud your courage. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.