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Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Crucial Fact

Historical Information Herbert Nakimayak is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly September 2019, as MLA for Nunakput

Lost his last election, in 2019, with 19% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Question 174-18(2): Mangilaluk School In Tuktoyaktuk June 6th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, my second question to the Minister is: when was the last time the Mangilaluk School's capacity was evaluated?

Question 174-18(2): Mangilaluk School In Tuktoyaktuk June 6th, 2016

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier I spoke about the state of Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk, and my questions are for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment.

Mr. Speaker, my first question is: in the past the department has said that Mangilaluk School was not at capacity and, yet, we are seeing overcrowding. How does the department evaluate school capacity, Mr. Speaker? Quyanainni.

Mangilaluk School In Tuktoyaktuk June 6th, 2016

Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, right now in the communities throughout the Beaufort Delta Region only 30 per cent of the students in grades 10, 11, 12 are going to school. Beaufort Delta District Education Council describes the situation as critical.

Mr. Speaker, I know there are many reasons students skip school; attendance goes down as weather gets warmer, or young people may be staying up late and sleeping in. Sometimes the work can be discouraging too, especially if young people have to leave their home communities to finish their high school education.

Another factor, Mr. Speaker, is the school's capacity, its ability to deliver what the students need. Let's consider Mangilaluk School in Tuktoyaktuk. First built in the 1990s, Mangilaluk School was originally built for kindergarten to grade nine, then expanded up to include up to grade 12. It now supports 18 teachers, not including other staff, and 225 students.

Back in the 15thAssembly, the Member of my region raised the first alarm of the concerns about students of all ages having to study and learn in close quarters. Later, in the 16thAssembly, the previous Member for Nunakput said in the House, “at Mangilaluk School we are seriously over crowded. Mangilaluk School desperately needs an extension to accommodate growing needs of the community.” Now here we are in the 18thAssembly and Tuktoyaktuk's population has continued to grow over the past five years with the number of children and young people aged zero to 24 either holding steady and, in some age groups, even growing. Junior kindergarten also means more students, Mr. Speaker. The community will be well-served by plans for a new school and knowing how long these projects take, Mr. Speaker, the time to start is now. I'll have questions for the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters June 6th, 2016

Thank you. That clarified. And also the other Member had asked the questions that I was looking for earlier. So thank you.

Consideration in Committee of the Whole of Bills and Other Matters June 6th, 2016

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Mr. Chair, my question is I see that the second to last point, schools for $128,914,000. I would just like a breakdown of that. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Question 172-18(2): Tuberculosis Programs June 5th, 2016

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, last week there was some social media brought up, the case of tuberculosis in Tuktoyaktuk, which caused a big scare in the community, and there has been a few concerned residents which they have contacted myself to just basically more get an education of what happens next when someone who think they may have been in contact with someone that has tuberculosis. Mr. Speaker, my final question is: what should someone do if they think they have been in contact with someone with TB? Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Question 172-18(2): Tuberculosis Programs June 5th, 2016

Mr. Speaker, my second question is: what active steps is the Department of Health and Social Services taking in 2016-17 to prevent tuberculosis and reduce new infections in the NWT?

Question 172-18(2): Tuberculosis Programs June 5th, 2016

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, earlier, I talked about TB, and my questions are for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Mr. Speaker, my first question is: currently, how many known cases of TB are there in the Northwest Territories? Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery June 5th, 2016

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I just want to welcome everyone from Dechinta here, as well as Mr. Jordan Peterson. He's running in an upcoming election for the Gwich'in Tribal Council and it's good to see young guys like yourself getting into politics and doing the better good for your people. Welcome. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.

Tuktoyaktuk Tuberculosis Incident June 5th, 2016

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, today I am going to talk about tuberculosis or TB. Mr. Speaker, earlier this month, residents of Tuktoyaktuk were tested for tuberculosis or TB after finding out a recent visitor had an active case of this disease.

TB is a bacterial infection that typically affects the lungs. It is also a shameful part of Canada's colonial history. From 1950 to 1969, it is estimated one third of Inuit in Canada contracted TB, a disease brought north by settlers. During those years, thousands of people were taken south for medical treatment and many were never able to return to their homes. Today Canada has one of the lowest overall TB rates in the world, but Mr. Speaker, some regions and peoples are still hit much harder than that. First Nations Metis and Inuit are the most likely to have current TB diagnosis. Nineteen per cent of reported cases in 4 per cent of the country's population. In that group Inuit would have the highest rate of 154.2 per 100,000 population. Let's put that into perspective, Mr. Speaker. The rate for non- Aboriginal Canadians is 0.6 percent per 100,000.

Last year, researchers traced a strain of tuberculosis common in the Canadian North right back to its arrival in 1919. These researchers also found that this strain was not any stronger than others, despite the prevalence of TB in the North. Mr. Speaker, it is clear that TB's impacts are magnified by Northerner’s limited access to affordable healthy food, regular health care, and housing without overcrowding.

Thanks to the quick work of health officials, the risk of additional infections in Tuktoyaktuk as a result of the recent incident is very low and all potentially affected residents have been notified. However, we must still be vigilant to address the root cause of Northerners' heightened vulnerability to tuberculosis. This incident is a reminder. Later on, I will have questions for the Minister of Health and Social Services. Quyanainni, Mr. Speaker.