Thank you, Mr. Beaulieu. Mr. Bromley.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I’d like to recognize a Page who’s a resident of Weledeh, Linnea Stephenson. I’d like to thank her for all her service to the House the past couple weeks, and also Jacob Schubert, who I don’t know whether he’s working today or not, but thanks to all of our Pages. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Bromley. Welcome, Mr. Buggins, to the gallery. Thank you for taking an interest in our proceedings here today.

Item 6, acknowledgements, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I want to honour Mrs. Judy Lafferty of Fort Good Hope, who was chosen as the Sahtu recipient at the annual Wise Woman Awards yesterday.

Mrs. Lafferty is a traditional woman who has many skills. Her beadwork is remarkable. Her ability to prepare meat and make dry fish is impeccable, and her care in raising a family is priceless.

Mr. Speaker, Mrs. Lafferty has always mentioned that her learning came from her late mother, Mrs. Mary Barnaby, who is no stranger to the Sahtu region.

On behalf of the Sahtu, congratulations to Mrs. Lafferty and the other well-deserved recipients of the Wise Woman Awards. Mahsi.

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Item 7, oral questions, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question today is for the Minister of ITI. I want to ask the Minister of ITI, has his department been investigating or looking at a concept where international beading or design-making or makers come together in the North to share their experience with other designers around the world?

Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment, Mr. Ramsay.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Not to my knowledge, I don’t believe that’s happened yet. I know the department has initiated some jewellery workshops across the territory, and we’re looking forward to doing more things like that.

The issue with beading and, of course, the beadwork here in the Northwest Territories is it’s probably some of the best in the world. If the Member has somebody in one of his communities in the Sahtu who’s interested in trying to put a program like that together, that’s something that we’d be interested in hearing about and helping support. Thank you.

People in the North are the best source as bead makers and Members around the Assembly here certainly demonstrate the fine work that our people have done in the Northwest Territories.

I would like to ask the Minister if he would maybe instruct his staff to look in the North and see if we could somehow formulate a discussion around having an international forum on beading and making vests or making jackets, right across. It would bring our people together with other international groups so that we could demonstrate our high quality of professionals.

Yes, I can ask the staff at ITI about the concept. The other thing I’ll mention to the Member, if he has someone who can spearhead putting together a proposal, a plan at the community level and advancing that to the regional office in Norman Wells, then we can take things from there. But I will commit to go back to the department and ask them their thoughts on this issue. Thank you.

Has the department initiated some policies or regulations to protect our…(inaudible)…from any type of abuse or any type of stealing of our designs or our beadwork?

That’s something I’ll have to go back to the department and ask them about. I’m not aware of any patents or copyrights on anything like that. That’s not to say that it may be

worth something the department wants to look at, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.

Thank you. I look forward to that, Mr. Speaker. Also, sewing, beading and making jackets has a lot of power. Has the Minister ever engaged in this type of work with his department in conjunction with the Health department, asking the meaning behind the beadwork or putting together a moosehide jacket or traditional wear such as yours, Mr. Speaker, in regards to helping our people with issues in their life?

I certainly appreciate that there’s a story behind every piece of beadwork that we see, not just here in the House but across the territory, and we certainly respect that. We’ll continue to have a discussion. If there’s a therapeutic side to that type of work, that activity, then that’s something I’ll have a discussion with my colleagues at ECE and Health and Social Services. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Ramsay. Mr. Menicoche.

Thank you very much, Mr. Speaker. Earlier today I spoke about the Dehcho and their seemingly stalled talks with the GNWT. I guess what it’s all about is since the onset of devolution, GNWT, of course, takes more of a lead only because now we have the lands in question. So, maybe I’ll ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs about our new role in negotiating with the Dehcho First Nations? Previous to this we were leaning heavily on Canada. I’d like to know how much weight we have as the GNWT negotiating with the Dehcho First Nations. Mahsi cho.

Thank you, Mr. Menicoche. The honourable Premier, Mr. McLeod.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The land claims negotiation process with Dehcho First Nations involves three parties: the Dehcho First Nations, the Government of Canada and the Government of the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Certainly, the three parties have invested over 30 years of hard negotiating time. I was getting at that I think the GNWT is taking a more important role. In fact, Mr. Premier met with the Dehcho leadership around two weeks ago, and they left that meeting somewhat disheartened. They thought they were there to speak with the Premier at that time that we hosted the meeting and find some more common ground.

They want to complete the negotiations and fulfill their aspirations for self-government.

I’d like to ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs once again, how much weight does the GNWT have in our negotiations since the onset of devolution? Thank you.

The Government of the Northwest Territories made a comprehensive offer to conclude the outstanding land and resource issues and a draft agreement-in-principle. The Government of the Northwest Territories offer included a land quantum of 37,500 square kilometres. This would result in the Dehcho First Nations having title to 37,500 square kilometres of land with surface title and approximately 17.78 percent interest in the subsurface of the entire Dehcho Settlement Area.

The Government of the Northwest Territories’ offer also included elements that would guide the completion of a Dehcho Land Use Plan, set out the structure and responsibilities of the Dehcho Resource Management Authority, set out the authorities of the Dehcho Government in relation to renewable resources and set out the process the parties would use during final agreement negotiations to identify settlement lands, finalize protected areas and update the Dehcho Land Use Plan. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

I’d like to thank the Minister for that response. Certainly, it almost sounds like a final offer. I guess what I’m in support of is we have to sit down with the Dehcho again. In fact, I think their latest asking is, geez, we’re 7,000 square kilometres apart. While mediation is never a popular way to go about it, I’d like to ask the Minister: What are his thoughts on getting mediation and getting back to the table, finding some more common ground, and let’s continue to move forward with our government and the Dehcho First Nations.

The Government of the Northwest Territories will continue to work in good faith with the representatives of the Dehcho First Nations Process. However, this can only be made with frank and honest conversations. This means that we must be able to lay out the extent of what we can do while still being fair to everyone. This is simply being honest and respectful. It is not being a bully or acting in a threatening manner.

Thank you, Mr. McLeod. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Menicoche.