Steven Nitah

Roles

In the Legislative Assembly

Elsewhere

Historical Information Steven Nitah is no longer a member of the Legislative Assembly.

Last in the Legislative Assembly November 2003, as MLA for Tu Nedhe

Lost his last election, in 2003, with 18% of the vote.

Statements in the House

Committee Motion 13-14(3): Amendments To The Property Assessment And Taxation Act (carried) June 29th, 2000

Thank you. I am glad the Minister is speaking the same line I am in that area. Having said that, I still want an arena in Lutselk'e.

-- Laughter

We need to have facilities in the smaller communities for our people in the smaller communities to participate meaningfully in these sporting events: Canada Games, Western Canada Games, North American Aboriginal Games is another big one, too. If we do not have the facilities, it is hard to participate meaningfully. If we cannot participate meaningfully, how can we support such endeavours? I am in full support, but if in the next Arctic Winter Games there is no involvement to the level I think there should be involvement from the small communities, then this supportive attitude I have would diminish very quickly.

Having said that, the conference in Hay River told me that sports and recreation is not only just sports. Recreation could be hand games, cultural events, crib tournaments, anything that all community members can get involved in. I do not see that too often in the communities. I see more emphasis placed on sports. Usually when you are talking sports, you are targeting certain age groups, and when you are targeting certain age groups, you are eliminating a whole lot of people from whom the dollars are there for. Getting back to the other games, there should be more tournaments in Arctic sports, for example, Dene games. That is how you develop the sport. I still want an arena in Lutselk'e, though. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Committee Motion 13-14(3): Amendments To The Property Assessment And Taxation Act (carried) June 29th, 2000

Thank you. I have similar concerns as Mr. Miltenberger, not with the Arctic Winter Games, but mainly with the lack of involvement by our smaller communities in the Northwest Territories, not necessarily aboriginal, but smaller communities. I agree with the Arctic Winter Games. I think it is a great event for people of all ages. It is a good boon for the communities that are lucky enough to host it. I think it is a good experience for all involved. At the last Arctic Winter Games in Whitehorse, it kind of told me something. That was the first time it was covered by our national sports TV, called TSN. It was great watching our sports in the Northwest Territories. They covered mainly, only aboriginal sports, or Dene games, Arctic sports, et cetera. Those sports involved have been in the Arctic Winter Games from day one. It seems that for Arctic sports, for example, the high kick, the airplane, what not, only the Inuit get involved. For the Dene, only the Dene get involved. Western games like volleyball, hockey, only the white people get involved. Why do we not try to integrate them?

I would like to see someone from Lutselk'e in the high kick competition. I would like to see someone from Tuktoyaktuk snowshoeing. I think Sport North should take it upon themselves, in close working relationship with the Aboriginal Sport Circle, to develop curriculum or material that will introduce all these sports to all communities and spread it out. It is great television. It is great for tourism. I think that is what I would like to see the department work on for the next few years, introduce all sports to all communities. Thank you.

Recommendation 1 June 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. That is an interesting perspective. That is one way of looking at it. Another way of looking at it is if you take it and go back to the days when the aboriginal people of the Northwest Territories were living out in the land following the caribou, doing their thing, and the federal government comes in and brings them to the communities and says we want to educate you, come on in, sets up this government, and this government sets and develops policies and acts, and now they are enforcing the acts. Bring them in. After a while, you get them comfortable, and we will tax them now. That is the way I look at it and that is the way my people look at it. Mr. Antoine, I think you should consult the people. Thank you.

Recommendation 1 June 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, it is obvious there is no consultation with the communities. For what purpose was this done? To what end, since the property is not owned by the individuals who are living in the house? It just makes it harder for them to sell when they want to sell. It is a burden on them having to pay the taxes. What is the purpose? Thank you.

Recommendation 1 June 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Were all 33 communities in the Northwest Territories assessed?

Recommendation 1 June 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. When I was referring to support, I was referring to the community leaders. I cannot see the chief and council agreeing to a one organization community. Take Lutselk'e, for example, agreeing that Municipal and Community Affairs comes in and does an assessment on the property and raising the value of the property and taxing them accordingly. We have already heard from other Members that they may try to compare the property assessment to that of the tax, but that is not happening. I am just wondering if there has been a reaction from the chiefs and councils and mayors and councils. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Recommendation 1 June 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Would you surmise that there is no support for this initiative? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Recommendation 1 June 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Has there been any reaction from the community leaders? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Recommendation 1 June 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I do not know if this question has been asked already, but before you go into a community and do assessments, do you consult the community leaders? The chief and council, the mayor and council, do you consult them and get their support? Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Recommendation 1 June 29th, 2000

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I would like to touch on that same area. Just a suggestion to the department to do a study on process kimberlite. We have a lot of trucks going up to BHP and coming back empty. Is there anything we could do with process kimberlite?

I know it is a material you can grow things in. It is a material that is in abundance, and there are transportation links that are coming down. Also, if there is some kind of benefit to it, it will help reduce the impact on the Tundra. Maybe we could do some kind of study on a cost-benefit analysis on transporting, using it and selling it in the Northwest Territories. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.