Mr. Speaker, I would like to take this opportunity to announce the release of Living Well Together, the online Indigenous cultural awareness and sensitivity training program for employees of the Government of the Northwest Territories.
Developed by the Department of Finance in collaboration with the Departments of Education, Culture and Employment and Health and Social Services, Living Well Together replaces the GNWT's previous Aboriginal cultural and sensitivity training for its employees. It is a direct response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's call for action with respect to professional development and training for public servants. Mr. Speaker, the commission has called upon all levels of government "to provide education to public servants on the history of Indigenous peoples, including the history and legacy of residential schools, the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, Treaties and Aboriginal rights, Indigenous Law, and Aboriginal-Crown Relations." According to the commission, "this will require skills-based training in intercultural competency, conflict resolution, human rights, and anti-racism."
Living Well Together is built on the northern studies curriculum provided to our students within the Northwest Territories and includes diverse and authentic perspectives of Indigenous people from across the Northwest Territories. Many courageous Northerners shared their personal stories on a wide variety of topics, including the impacts of residential schools. Mr. Speaker, these are important stories that all Northerners, especially our public servants, should listen to and learn from. On behalf of Cabinet, I want to thank each and every Northerner who told their story so that we could develop this training. This includes many elders, Indigenous governments, community members, Indigenous artists, and GNWT employees who contributed to this training in so many valuable ways.
Living Well Together was created in the spirit of reconciliation and provides opportunities for our employees to reflect on ways to support reconciliation and decolonization as public servants and private citizens in the workplace and within the community. Through careful reflection and deliberate acts of reconciliation, we can make positive changes throughout the Northwest Territories and serve as an example for the rest of Canada. With this in mind, this training will be mandatory for all employees, and the Department of Finance will endeavor to support all current GNWT employees to complete this training within 12 months. My special advisor and I had the benefit of a sneak peek, and we have decided to act as one another's learning partners. We plan to schedule occasions over the coming months to work through the modules together.
Mr. Speaker, we expect this training will have an immeasurable impact on not only our public service but also on the communities we serve. We believe this training has the potential to benefit all residents of the Northwest Territories and will set an example, as I said, for the rest of Canada. As such, this training will be made available to the public. Living Well Together was developed in the spirit of reconciliation. I encourage all employees to begin this training with an open mind and to support one another during this process. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.