EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
Collaborating with local partners, Music Alive programs were delivered in Iqaluit, Pangnirtung, Igloolik, Cape Dorset, Kimmirut, Rankin Inlet, Baker Lake, and Kugluktuk.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to ask you if you can extend the Minister’s Statement. (interpretation) Thank you.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The minister is asking for unanimous consent to conclude his ministerial statement.
Are there any nays? (interpretation) I don’t hear any nays.
Mr. Quassa, please proceed.
I would like to thank my colleagues for giving me the opportunity.
Mr. Speaker, in the program this year, there were:
25 school music workshops with 300 participants;
12 school performances involving 1,500 students and teachers;
10 extended teaching musician visits teaching 500 students; and
3 instrumental coaching sessions by the National Arts Centre for four Inuksuk High School music students using videoconferencing.
There were performances in six communities involving 15 Nunavut musicians and music students and 10 visiting artists. Seven community workshops were held and 60 individuals participated.
Mr. Speaker, this year, Hayden George, Principal of Kugluktuk High School, received the Principal of Music Award from the Coalition for Music Education in Canada. This award, sponsored by Music Alive Nunavut, provided Kugluktuk High School with $1,500 to support the school music program.
Mr. Speaker, we are proud to continue supporting this valuable program. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 273 – 4(3): Recent Rash of Tires Slashed in Constituency (Okalik)
Mr. Okalik (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation ends) Earlier this winter, there was a rash of slashing of tires in one of the neighbourhoods I represent in Iqaluit-Sinaa.
These are hard-working people that own their own homes and contribute to our territory.
It was rather unfortunate that their winter tires that are very expensive, let alone that you can’t even get them here, were slashed.
Some of my constituents called my office enquiring about setting up a neighbourhood watch.
I want to make it clear that my office is available to my constituents on this matter any time if they want to organize a meeting to establish a neighbourhood watch in the area. I will do whatever I can to facilitate and help them. I encourage them to keep a sharp eye for any questionable activity in the neighbourhood and alert the authorities.
I will do whatever I can to support your efforts and please call my office and we will work on establishing a meeting and making sure that all neighbourhoods are safe and clear of unnecessary crime. (interpretation) Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 274 – 4(3): Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board Community Engagement Tour (Akoak)
Good afternoon to Gjoa Havenmiut and Nunavummiut.
I rise today to express my concerns regarding the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board’s plans for community engagement, which are scheduled to take place this summer.
According to its terms of reference, the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board’s mandate is to help guide the direction and activities of the Nutrition North Canada Program and to “ensure that northern residents receive its full benefits.”
Mr. Speaker, on May 30, 2016, the advisory board announced its plans for a consultation tour that will take place this summer.
Mr. Speaker, I acknowledge that the board’s consultation tour will include the communities of Baker Lake, Kugaaruk, Pond Inlet, and Iqaluit, although the dates and times for these consultations have yet to be released.
Mr. Speaker, I encourage residents in all of these communities to keep an eye out for that information as it becomes available and to participate in those consultations.
Mr. Speaker, it is important that Nunavummiut take this opportunity to voice their concerns regarding the Nutrition North Canada Program and to ensure that our needs are represented.
Mr. Speaker, I have stood up in this House on numerous occasions to address the issue of food security and the lack of affordable food in Nunavut communities.
Mr. Speaker, I was disappointed to note that the community of Gjoa Haven will not be directly consulted during the advisory board’s upcoming tour.
Please proceed, Mr. Akoak.
Mr. Akoak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to members.
As I was saying, Mr. Speaker, I was disappointed to note that the community of Gjoa Haven will not be directly consulted during the advisory board’s upcoming tour.
I have previously made note of the fact that Gjoa Haven continues to see some of the highest food prices in the territory, as reported in numerous studies, including the 2015 Nunavut Food Price Survey.
Mr. Speaker, I emphasize the importance of comprehensive community consultation regarding food security initiatives, and I hope that the Nutrition North Canada Advisory Board will take the opportunity to consult with my community in the near future.
Member’s Statement 275 – 4(3): Appreciation for Search and Rescue (Keyootak)
I rise today to express my gratitude and to share my pride in the capabilities of our search and rescue group.
Mr. Speaker, as all of you are aware and which we all know, our travelling party got lost when the three of us left Iqaluit to travel home. The party consisted of me, my nephew Peter Kakkik, and Adamie, who is my son.
Mr. Speaker, I wish to take this opportunity to express my immense appreciation to the people who volunteer to conduct searches. They undertook a lot of work to find us and on behalf of the group I was with, I extend our sincere gratitude. Particularly on behalf of my wife and children, I wish to thank them all.
Mr. Speaker, this experience was quite stressful to me personally, but we did not intentionally lose our way when we got lost.
Mr. Speaker, as a measure of my thankfulness to the searchers and coordinators, I wish to express my heartfelt thanks for their dedication and grid searches as part of their search for our party.
Furthermore, I wish to also make this statement: as Inuit inhabiting the traditional lands of our people, the Arctic will never become winter-free, as we know from experience.
To the audience watching on television or listening on the radio, I wish to encourage them, particularly our constituents as well as my colleagues here, that the Inuit homeland will continue to experience winter.
Although we are told and informed that global warming is occurring, it does not mean the Arctic will stop freezing up, based on our experiences. Mr. Speaker, ever since we were born into this land, the climate has changed, but it has never warmed up to the level forecasted, although the prevailing climate continues to change in our lands.
Mr. Speaker, it is extremely important to retain our traditional survival skills, particularly when we are outside of our communities. The traditional skill of igloo-building or Inuit survival skills have to be maintained as Inuit will continue to inhabit the Arctic.
(interpretation) I don’t hear any nays. Mr. Keyootak, please proceed.
Mr. Keyootak (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Thank you to all members.
Mr. Speaker, as I stated earlier, the Arctic will continue to experience winter and freezing.
Our descendants in particular have to relearn these ancient survival skills that enabled our ancestors to survive on the land.
If we do not have that knowledge, we have to ensure we learn these skills.
Mr. Speaker, life today includes many conveniences and tools for usage, such as GPS units and other technology available such as computers, the Internet, and SPOT, that allow Inuit to be on the land and we are aware of their convenience.
Nonetheless, all technological wonders can break down and stop working.
You can experience problems if all you know is how to use the convenient technology to travel and if you do not have traditional survival skills as a backup.
Traditional Inuit survival skills are essential for Inuit in our homeland. We all know that our ancestors were experts in traditional survival skills, but we continue to lose these experts today.
If we do not take it upon ourselves to keep this knowledge, we will lose important parts of our culture.
Further, if we do not pass along this knowledge to our grandchildren and children, they will start to lose the foundation of our people’s ancient knowledge. If we do not pass the knowledge on or relearn it, that will happen.
We have to preserve our ancient survival skills as we, the Inuit, live in the Arctic and it will remain a largely frozen environment.
That was why I wanted to articulate my appreciation for the people who provided assistance and I am extremely proud of the search and rescue people who conducted this successful search.
Member’s Statement 276 – 4(3): 2016 Kimmirut High School Graduates (Joanasie)
I rise today to acknowledge two individuals who will be graduating grade 12 in Kimmirut.
Their names are Leetia Tikivik and Pitsiulala Atsiaq.
I would like to congratulate those two students for completing grade 12 and I wish them well to further their education.
Mr. Speaker, it is a memorable moment when you graduate grade 12 and we keep hearing members stating their congratulations to the high school graduates.
I remember very well when I first graduated 15 years ago and that time, the member for our riding had congratulated me for completing grade 12.
I know that there are going to be a lot more opportunities to enhance our lives. Therefore, I would like to remember all the graduates and congratulate them. I also know that they will be celebrating the graduates next week and I expect that I’ll be able to attend the graduation ceremony in Kimmirut.
Let’s congratulate and be proud of the students that are graduating from high school.
Member’s Statement 277 – 4(3): Qaqimat – Going Back Home (Mikkungwak)
First of all, I would like to say “happy birthday” to my oldest daughter, Doreen Niego.
I hope you have a wonderful day.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to acknowledge Allen Makhagak, who, in 1995, composed a beautiful song titled “Going Back Home,” which is a song about Kingauk, who undertook a visit to his homeland.
Mr. Speaker, it is always very heartening to see the video titled “Qaqimat” on YouTube.
The video was put together in the year 1998 by Qaqimat’s late son.
I would also like to pay special tribute to the river in the video.
The river is a recognized Heritage River known as the Thelon River, “The Place Where God Began.”
Mr. Speaker, I encourage my colleagues and all Nunavummiut to take the time to view the video “Qaqimat,” which showcases a part of beautiful Baker Lake.
Member’s Statement 278 – 4(3): The Need for an Elders Facility in Taloyoak (Qirngnuq)
Mr. Qirngnuq: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. (interpretation) I say “good day” to my fellow residents of Kugaaruk and the people of Taloyoak. I also say “good day” to my colleagues.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the need for an elders facility in Taloyoak.
Mr. Speaker, like many communities across Nunavut, the population of Taloyoak is steadily aging.
Individuals find themselves needing more support and assistance with their daily living as they get older.
At the same time and also like many other communities across Nunavut, Taloyoak faces high unemployment levels.
Mr. Speaker, as my colleagues will be aware, Taloyoak has a new health centre which was built very recently.
The old health centre is now empty and could easily be converted into a care facility.
Having such a facility would not only help to meet the needs of our elders, but it could also provide employment opportunities.
Opening an elders facility would benefit the community as a whole.
Mr. Speaker, the mayor of Taloyoak recently wrote to me on this issue.
I understand that the mayor and SAO have been lobbying the Minister of Health for an elders facility in Taloyoak.
I wish to add my voice to theirs in support of establishing an elders facility for Taloyoak.
Member’s Statement 279 – 4(3): Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit (Shooyook)
Mr. Shooyook (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. To Nunavummiut and my fellow residents in Quttiktuq, I say “good day” and welcome to the House.
I rise today not to portray feelings of joy or congratulatory events, but a very important matter that arose when I was elected to the Legislative Assembly, which is an issue that our people in Nunavut clamour for.
I have taken it upon myself over the last three years now to convey or address the need for Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit here in Nunavut. Our people note that it has been missing amongst the Nunavut government ever since it was created.
The Nunavut government is vastly different from other governments in Canada.
Aside from that, Inuit societal values have been suffering through legislation, which is contradictory to Inuit cultural practice.
Inuit culture is very important and we want to see it being practised.
Mr. Speaker, I wonder what can be done for Nunavut.
My legislative colleagues have promoted support for the government’s operation.
Why is it that the issues I keep pushing are going nowhere?
It’s mentioned in Sivumut Abluqta.
When I see that is part and parcel of the Nunavut government, it pains me that we are ending up with our culture’s erosion.
That being the case, three years have passed since I have lobbied the cabinet on Inuit societal values.
They repeatedly claim that they fully support those values, yet to this day, this support has not gone much beyond lip service.
On what basis is the cabinet operating the government? Is it knowledge amongst the ministers?
(interpretation) There are no nays. Mr. Shooyook, please proceed.
Mr. Shooyook: (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
I will try to make it brief.
I have been quite passionate about incorporating traditional counselling services for the Department of Family Services and the Department of Justice so that the elders, who are very capable, can be involved in counselling people.
Mr. Speaker, as a father, I lost the authority over my children.
Today, I am hurting because of this legislation.
It seems like our children were just stolen from us by virtue of a foreign western cultural practice. Further, areas that Inuit would be able to proactively deal with are sent through the courts, with our people incarcerated in prisons.
Mr. Speaker, what are our goals in dealing with these issues I have advocated?
Will the government ever incorporate the practices I promote?
Through these western practices, as fathers, we lost the authority over our children and we can no longer provide discipline.
This has broken the Inuit traditional self-determination and knowledge base.
Mr. Speaker, even though I am voicing this passionately in front of the ministers, I know for a fact that they will not take this seriously.
In making my Member’s Statement as a legislator, I urge my colleagues to take this to heart.
We are told that we are the legislators, but I see only the facet of asking questions and approvals.
Personally, in reaching the third year of this legislature, I am now weary of this advocacy.
If this was properly founded on the land claims agreement, as it is written that Inuit will work towards repatriating their societal practices, it was music to our ears back in those days.
As it turns out, as Inuit, we were just extinguishing control over our lives.
How unfortunate and this is extremely regrettable.
I urge the ministers to open their ears so that they can be more compassionate to my statement.
This is very important for our future generations.
If changes are not wrought, we will see more episodes of people abusing firearms, committing theft, and being incarcerated, and the numbers will rise.
This is something I feel is a truthful assessment and not just a guess.
Mr. Speaker, before the end of the 2017 fiscal year, I want to set my eyes on a plan outlining how Inuit traditional knowledge, which I alluded to, will be incorporated into counselling services in order to better our people’s lives.
Member’s Statement 280 – 4(3): Appreciation for Airport Maintainers (Enook)
Prior to making my Member’s Statement, let me begin with saying to my fellow Pond Inlet residents that we will keep you in our thoughts as you experience difficulties.
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak to this matter. Within Nunavut, we are serviced in all avenues by the government public servants, municipal employees, and others.
Sometimes we don’t appreciate these people and acknowledge them, and I am personally guilty of not recognizing the services and convenience I am afforded by these services. Today, I want to acknowledge the workers who are rarely mentioned by pointing them out and to express my appreciation to them.
I believe all of the communities have airstrips.
Whenever we have to attend to meetings or medical appointments, there is no choice but air transportation and this continues today. The airport maintainers in our communities, along with airport managers looking after the airstrip, are who I want to single out by voicing my gratitude to them today.
In particular, during the winter and especially in our community during the dark season, while I am comfortably sleeping, the airport maintainers are busy clearing the airstrip of snow to allow the arrival of the plane as well as the departure without any hint of danger.
This is something we rarely think of; at least I personally don’t give much thought to the level of service we are receiving as Nunavummiut.
I also recall the fact that our airport maintainers and custodians have extra work when spring arrives due to the melting of the airstrips, which causes them to work harder. Sometimes while I am cosily sleeping away, the airport maintainer is preparing the airstrip in order for the plane to land and take off. Today, I want to extend my immense thankfulness to Nunavut’s group of airport maintainers and custodians as they keep Nunavummiut safe, so I thank them all.
Furthermore, on a personal note, I wish to extend my appreciation to my fellow resident of Pond Inlet, Elijah Nashook. In all this time, our airstrip in Pond Inlet has a reputation for being the best maintained runway and the maintenance of the airstrip is amongst the best in the territory.
I wish to thank you, Elijah, and have a good day.
Member’s Statement 281 – 4(3): Dog Mauling in Chesterfield Inlet (Sammurtok, T)
I was unsure as to how I would raise this matter, but I just received a call earlier stating that I can speak to the issue here in the House, so I will make a brief statement on it.
Now, I believe my colleagues are all aware of what transpired in Chesterfield Inlet yesterday that resulted in a tragic event where a young girl was mauled by a dog and killed.
Further, the affected parents are part of my own family, as I am related to them personally, and the victim was my nephew’s granddaughter who passed away.
I want to inform my fellow Chesterfield Inlet residents that people in this House are thinking of them in both their thoughts and prayers. This is for all the people of Chesterfield Inlet.
I had wanted to voice more thoughts on this, but I will just stop at this point.
I would like to recognize one of my constituents, Simon Nattaq, who is also a board member for QIA.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Member for Kugluktuk, Mr. Taptuna.
I recognize a person from Kugluktuk, a person whom I grew up with, and a person whom I went to school with.
She is here helping the Department of [Culture and Heritage] do their work. Welcome to the House, Agnes Egotak.
Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery. Mr. David Joanasie.
I would also like to take this time to recognize an individual from Cape Dorset, Maata Pudlat. She is taking the Interpreter/Translator Program here in Iqaluit.
I would also like to recognize an individual originally from Hall Beach, Louise Akeearok. Welcome.
Question 366 – 4(3): Baker Lake Housing Authority (Mikkungwak)
On February 23, 2015, the Baker Lake Housing Authority was formally established by way of ministerial order.
As the minister will recall, a mock election in the community was scheduled to be held earlier this year to select names to forward to the minister for recommended appointment to the local housing authority.
Can the minister confirm when the members of the local housing authority will be formally appointed?
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you. (interpretation ends) The Hon. Minister responsible for the Nunavut Housing Corporation, Hon. George Hickes.
It has been a little bit lengthier of a process than I had anticipated due to some administrative delays, but I can tell the member that I signed off on the documentation just this morning.
Mr. Mikkungwak: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the minister for the sign-off.
As the minister will be aware, the report on phase 1 of the operational audit that was tabled by the Premier earlier this year recommended that a comprehensive review of local housing organizations be undertaken and that this review, and I quote, “Identify potential cost-benefits of contracting out components of LHO maintenance and installation work to support the local economy.”
Can the minister indicate if and when this review will take place?
Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for bringing up that document as well.
With regard to that specific review, I don’t have a timeline. I know that my staff at the Nunavut Housing Corporation has been working very diligently on the blueprint for action to get that finished and available for me to present here in the legislature in the fall sitting.
There are always ongoing reviews of a lot of our programs, including the LHO management agreement that we discussed here last fall, which will help streamline some of the processes.
We always encourage local participation with contractors with any tenders that we put out there, but I can’t give the member a firm date at this time.
It is my understanding that new office and warehouse space for Baker Lake’s local housing authority has been approved.
Can the minister indicate when construction on this project will begin?
Hon. George Hickes: Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member also for bringing that forward.
The warehousing program that NHC is undertaking to create a more standard design across the communities, we’re looking at Baker Lake to provide the first model of that.
Some of our initial queries into the marketplace have brought in higher-than-expected cost estimates. We were hoping to start construction this year. The project is still approved.
I had to go back to my colleagues at FMB to take a look at the budgetary constraints. We will be looking at putting tenders out during this year with construction starting next year.
Question 367 – 4(3): The Need for Women’s Shelter Funding (Akoak)
Mr. Speaker, it is unfortunate that in some Kitikmeot communities, there is a great need for shelters.
I am aware of one case where a single mother with several young children is temporarily housed in a unit that is in very bad shape.
In fact, the unit is in such bad shape that this family lives in fear for their health and safety.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister clarify how his department supports Kitikmeot communities in setting up and operating shelters so that they are safe and comfortable for those who need to use them and for those who need them most?
Mr. Speaker, with respect to people suffering from absolute homelessness, we try to work with all Nunavut communities on these issues with local initiatives on homelessness.
It is much simpler and easier for the community to enact a local initiative sent to our corporation so that we can work towards that goal.
It should be a local initiative to resolve these challenges throughout Nunavut, whichever community undertakes that, and we can start the work collaboratively with the community.
This past April, a motion was passed by the Kitikmeot Mayors’ Forum regarding women’s shelter funding.
The motion requested that government funding for shelters cover all operating costs associated with the shelter.
Can the minister confirm whether he has received a copy of that motion and the corresponding letter from the Kitikmeot Mayors’ Forum and, if so, what was his response?
Mr. Speaker, I can now respond to the question about the correspondence or resolution that was mentioned. I personally have never signed off on one nor have I seen a copy.