Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Earlier this month educators around the world celebrated Teachers’ Day on October 4th . That’s the most

honourable job ever held in any position by our people.

Today I rise in the House to discuss the status of education in the Northwest Territories. As our Assembly of First Nations National Chief Sean Atleo said, “Education is detrimental to social and economic health and creates key links to our other priorities, governing capacities and sustainable economic development.” Two large areas, Mr. Speaker. One I think we’re doing very well within the Sahtu; the second we’re still grappling with. But if the feasibility study for a technical institute in the Sahtu comes to fruition – because today we’re still sending them to the Aurora College campus – we will become masters of our own destiny, tackling sustainable economic development in our region, for the NWT and for Canada.

For the NWT to succeed in building the workforce and benefit from resource development, we must create an environment for learning, an environment for builders, an environment with a “yes, we can” attitude.

Our youth want to enter the workforce. They want to learn a trade and find a career path that wouldn’t take them away from their families and communities. Our First Nations and Aboriginal youth need to be motivated, to be inspired so they can dream and imagine possibilities that are endless. The world doesn’t end at Grade 12 nor does it end with a welding certificate or a bachelor’s degree or a science degree.

We have five great schools in the Sahtu: Chief Albert Wright School, Chief T’Selehye School, Colville Lake School, ?ehtseo School and the Mackenzie Mountain School, all powerful names for our students to be reminded of who we are and where we come from. For example, two of our junior volleyball teams captured first place last weekend at the Junior Spike It. I’m sure we’ll see more athletes from the Sahtu in town this weekend for the Senior Spike It Volleyball Tournament.

While we heard about the challenges of our educators in the small communities, let us also celebrate our successes across the Northwest Territories and tell them, yes, you can succeed and that we are 100 percent behind them.

Mr. Speaker, I seek unanimous consent to conclude my Member’s statement.

---Unanimous consent granted