Mr. Speaker, my mother is my favourite senior. I might get in trouble for referring to her as that, but she is a feisty and fabulous 74-year-old. She loves to travel, kayak, create, and she is affectionately referred to by my girlfriends as the original diva. Those of us with seniors in our lives are truly blessed. Our elders and seniors are powerful, but it is not a power that is physically exerted over us. Their power comes from the knowledge and wisdom gained over decades of life experience. It is a power that teaches us to sit, breathe, and listen.
Mr. Speaker, aging isn't just a biological process; it is a cultural one. Different cultures have varying attitudes and practices around aging, and these cultural perspectives shape our individual experiences of getting older. Many cultures celebrate the aging process. In Zimbabwe, they train grandmothers to help treat depression. In Greek culture, old age is honoured and celebrated, and respect for elders is central to the family. In places like China, South Korea, Taiwan, and Vietnam, in the practice of Confucianism, filial piety or caring for one's parent is considered a prime virtue. As a result, we see cultural practices, like in China, where employers provide time off for workers to visit elderly parents.
Here, Indigenous people also hold an attitude of respect and reverence for their elders. When starting a new beginning, elders are often asked to open the celebration with prayer, by feeding a fire. Indigenous elders are viewed as knowledge keepers and stewards of centuries-old language and traditional practices. In the North, as in Japan, we see multiple generations living under one roof, but Japan does not suffer the same housing and equitable access to healthcare crisis as the NWT.
Conversely, in Western cultures, we celebrate youth, strength, and virility, and do not emphasize the care and comfort of our elders and seniors at the same time. We need to ensure that we do all that we can to honour, respect, and support our elders. This includes ensuring that they have the opportunity to age in place close to family, with support, resources, and connections in their own language, safe from violence and neglect. We need to ensure that our programs and services do not have unintended barriers preventing seniors from accessing them.
Mr. Speaker, I am happy that our Premier continues the tradition of naming a Minister responsible for Seniors, because seniors and elders matter. However, I am generally concerned about the practice of assigning portfolios lacking fiscal resources and departments of capable staff to do the necessary work. What does it mean to be a Minister responsible for an issue without adequate resources to do the work or plans in place for affecting change?
As Northerners, we need to reflect on our own views on aging and how we are supporting our elders. As a government, we need the resources to ensure we are providing seniors with the supports they need to live meaningful lives. Collectively, we must embrace our seniors and elders and recognize all they do to enrich our lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.