EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
As the members may know the Hamlet of Kugluktuk have been staffing a community wellness coordinator position and the coordinator has had many successes.
Mr. Speaker, we are all aware that the funding for various programs exist through Federal and Territorial initiatives. (interpretation ends) We also know that these application processes can be complex and at time consuming.
Mr. Speaker, hamlet staff are busy and often applications cannot be submitted due to time constraints.
The coordinator in Kugluktuk has been responsible for submitting various applications to take advantage of these programs.
In addition Mr. Speaker, the coordinator has worked on the Kugluktuk community wellness plan.
Implemented a youth peers counselling project, conducted regular inter-agency meetings, and provided coordination among the Hamlet’s brighter future, prenatal recreational, youth, and alcohol and drug programs.
Without the coordinator, these programs would not run as smoothly or help as many people.
Mr. Speaker, the coordinator has also proved to be a very valuable resource to the health committee of Council.
I celebrate the success of the coordinator has had to date but I am frustrated Mr. Speaker, that full-time funding has not yet been allocated for this position.
Mr. Speaker, the hamlet is operating this position on a deficit at this point and this cannot continue.
Mr. Speaker, the Bathurst Mandate states that health of Nunavut depends on the health of each of its physical, social, economic and culture communities and the healthy interconnection of mind, body, spirit and environment.
Mr. Speaker, the wellness coordinator in Kugluktuk is working to achieve the goals of Bathurst Mandate by enabling the hamlet to access funding to address community wellness issues.
It is important that the permanent funding be found to staff this position.
(interpretation) Mr. Speaker, I will be asking some questions to the appropriate minister a bit later on in regards to this issue.
Member’s Statement 181 – 1(6): Review of Institutional Needs in Nunavut
I’d like to acknowledge everybody in the communities of Gjoa Haven and Taloyoak.
I say hello to my family, and my son in Inuvik.
Mr. Speaker, I am rise today in regards and to remind everybody of the importance of what Kitikmeot has been worried about in respect to the lack of correctional facilities in our region.
I would like to remind the members of the tragedies occurring earlier this year involving prisoners from the Kitikmeot while in custody of the Baffin Correctional facility.
Mr. Speaker, sometimes inmates are also sent to the Yellowknife Correctional Centre if the Baffin Correctional Facility is full.
However, Mr. Speaker, this is also very difficult for unilingual inmates.
There are not many employees that can speak Inuktitut there anymore, for example, in Yellowknife Correction Centre.
Mr. Speaker, I understand that the government has completed a strategic plan for a correctional facility in Nunavut in co-operation with the correctional services of Canada and that they have reviewed the institutional needs for Nunavut and are finalizing these plans.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time, I will be asking the Minister of Justice questions on this matter in representing my fellow Nunavummiut and Kitikmeot people and of existing barriers to housing prisoners closer to their home communities which will strengthen the healing process.
Member’s Statement 182 – 1(6): Fair Policing for Nunavummiut
Mr. Speaker, I’m standing here today hoping to be understood, to be clear, I apologize if it’s a little off track, but otherwise, I stand here to say that here in Nunavut, we have had policing for a long time now and they were one of the first government representatives to come up to the Arctic.
The RCMP is funded by the Federal Government and we haven’t been subjected to the Canada criminal code until after WWII when the government moved north.
They have hurt us in our lives and within our hearts up here in Nunavut.
Perhaps it will be more understandable this way.
Since the RCMP have been here, because English is a second language and has not been spoken for a long time, so therefore our understanding is not as comprehensive, but we have never seen this criminal code.
It is really hard when we have not seen anything that has been broken, when we are not shown the written law.
The RCMP come in and states that you have broken a law which is why you were under arrest.
Mr. Speaker, this has been detrimental to Inuit lives here in Nunavut, the police actions, that is.
They came up here with great intentions to protect the society but it hasn’t always been like that in our past.
There are several issues, such as the slaughter of dogs up here in Nunavut.
It’s true, it’s so very true and this was implemented by the police.
Our lives and livelihood have been affected by the RCMP and this needs to be corrected and changed for the better.
Mr. Speaker, I also want to say that the police today, I do not know exactly what are they doing in the communities. I’m not sure what it is that they do but if I suspect that they are trying to anger our young people or to correct the things that they want to do, if they are angering our young people and older people as well. That’s dangerous.
Secretive persecution, if they have been angering our people secretively, that is hurting our lives and we will have to know for ourselves in Nunavut about these issues…
Mr. Iqaqrialu (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I would like to finish my statement in it’s entirety.
I didn’t finish what I had to say.
Our lives here in Nunavut in the Arctic have been affected by the RCMP through their treatment, it is not all positive.
We know that here in Nunavut the treatment that we have received at their hands.
We know today, that with our own government and the laws that had been made for Nunavut has to come from Nunavut for Nunavut.
And also we know that we need laws made by us, for our territory.
Mr. Speaker, we became MLAs for various communities in 1999. I have travelled to various communities here in Nunavut regarding our work.
Mr. Speaker, I have seen up to today and there is not one law that is geared towards Inuit specifically.
My bones have been affected because of the lack of the laws that have been made and it is up to the RCMP to break my bones, because there are no laws protecting us.
There are bones in our bodies; the police can do whatever they want to us.
If they choose to break them, they may do so, according to the law they can.
The courts may also change the laws if they wish to, and today, most of the laws are irrelevant to the Inuit.
There are many laws here and the world and in Canada geared towards the citizens.
They are affecting our lives.
There is not one law geared toward Inuit.
We need to work in our Nunavut of Government that we have made.
This is to ensure that we enact legislation that protects Inuit and their customs.
Member’s Statement 183 – 1(6): Assistance for Connecting to Utilidor
Mr. Speaker, I rise this evening to raise an issue of concern to a number of Iqaluit residents.
Mr. Speaker, the number of Iqaluit homes connected to the utilidor in recent years has been increasing.
This is a positive development because it not only improves the dependability of water supply to the peoples’ homes, but also reduces costs to the city.
Mr. Speaker, in recognition of the desirability of assisting home owners in connecting to the utilidor, the Government of Nunavut wisely decided some time ago to assist home owners with the hook-up costs.
These costs can run into the thousands of dollars and are a significant burden for home owners, especially young families with heavy mortgages to pay.
This program has largely been a success for the residents of the lower base, however Mr. Speaker, it has come to my attention that there are some resident homeowners including people living in the Uviuk loop area who have been told by the city that they will not receive the subsidy despite the fact that they meet the same criteria as the homeowners in the lower base who have received support.
Mr. Speaker, it’s my understanding that there is approximately 12 houses that we’re talking about here.
Surely this government and the department can look for some ways and means to assist all homeowners in their costs in hooking up to the utilidor.
Mr. Speaker, I would urge the department to review the situation and work with the city to provide clear information to the public as to what the residents are eligible to receive and work towards a solution based on the principles of fairness and equitability to the residents of Iqaluit.
Mr. Speaker, at the appropriate time I will be asking the minister responsible the questions in relation to this issue.
Member’s Statement 184 – 1(6): Recognise Breast Cancer Awareness Month
I’m glad to be able to rise today, to rise this evening before the month of October is over to recognize October as breast cancer awareness month.
Mr. Speaker, the Minister of Health and Social Services recently released a long awaited reported on comparable health indicators for Nunavut and Canada.
Even though that report shows that Nunavut’s breast cancer rates are relatively low compared with the rest of Canada.
We should use this time as an opportunity to raise awareness and make sure that these rates stay low.
I would also like to recognize the efforts made by the Iqaluit Order of the Royal Purple to raise funds towards the prevention of breast cancer in Nunavut.
As with many health issues, education and awareness can go a long to preventing illness from developing into cancer.
Mr. Speaker, two weeks ago, October 18 was National Mammography Day.
Mammography is a technology which can assist in the early detection of breast cancer if used properly.
I would like to encourage the Minister of Health and Social Services to continue his efforts to make mammography services available in Nunavut.
At the appropriate time and to the appropriate Minister, Mr. Speaker, I will have questions on this issue.
Member’s Statement 185 – 1(6): Opening of Martha Talerok Centre
Mr. Speaker, I’m very glad to be in the beautiful community of Pangnirtung this evening and I really appreciate the hospitality so far but I rise tonight with a good news story from my community of Baker Lake.
Mr. Speaker, we hear time and time again about the needs to respect our elders.
We hear about the need to ensure that they live in dignity within their home communities, surrounded by their family and friends.
However, the reality in our communities is too often very different.
This is a sad reality that we ought to be ashamed of.
Mr. Speaker, a joyous event took place in Baker Lake earlier this month.
Along with my very good friend, the Minister of Health and Social Services, I was privileged to take part in the grand opening of the Martha Taleruk Centre, a place of gentle care.
Mr. Speaker, this elder’s group facility was finally renovated this year after a great deal of persistence, pressure from community leaders and myself. Mr. Speaker, the grand opening was well attended; Qamanittuaqmuit celebrated that fact that three well respected community elders now have a decent place in which to live.
These elders, Emil Oklaga, John Narkjagik and Vera Akumik are the first to move into this centre.
More will come from all over Nunavut and I am confident that the 19 full and part-time Inuit staff at the centre will do an excellent job.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to close by thanking the Minister for listening to the needs of the community and most importantly acting on them.
Member’s Statement 186 – 1(6): More Support For Unilingual Speaking People
Of course sometimes when you’re a young person you’re not fully aware of what’s happening within the community proper.
In the 1960’s when the schools were established and we were being taught the English language, the English language to us was a second language but it was a convenience when you could use it outside of your community.
As a member of the Legislative Assembly and in representing the people of Nunavut and when you have been brought up speaking English as a second language at a tender age, you don’t notice the types of hardships that our unilingual Inuit go through.
Us younger generations of Inuit haven’t experienced this type of barrier and we don’t realize the extent it reaches within their lives because English is not a foreign language to us.
Service in English to us is the norm, whether it be written or oral and we don’t think about the hardships that our unilingual Inuit go through.
If you look at the doorway and the exit, it’s written in English.
An unilingual Inuk might look at it and can’t comprehend what it says but its, I think that we have to be aware of what kinds of hardships the elders go through.
We have to be joyful of our accomplishments, as an example, here in Pangnirtung, the wall there is written entirely in Inuktitut.
We have to be more aware of these barriers.
These people are not an embarrassment, nor is it shameful as an Inuk even if you don’t speak English, you should have cultural pride in your heritage, even if it is an inconvenience to the Inuit, again we have to look at how we can make it easier for the younger unilingual Inuit and I do know that there is a lot more work to do when we’re here as a regular member and in representing the people in my communities.
I think it is only in dealing with my constituents over this term, especially at this time that I have finally come to realize the kinds of hardships that unilingual people experience.
I’m talking about the people who can’t read or speak English.
There hasn’t been very much done about this problem and I think we have to be more aware of these issues and look for solutions to make it easier for these people and to have them contribute and be proud of their skills and experiences even without the ability to speak or write English.
I urge my colleagues and the Government of Nunavut.
That is the whole foundation of why we created our own government.
We need to get back to what we started with in those days, prior to Nunavut.
We have to promote the usage of the Inuktitut language and so let’s keep our promise because there are a lot of unilingual Inuit out there experiencing these hardships.
Member’s Statement 187 – 1(6): Full Time Mayor for Iqaluit
Mr. Speaker, I just want to begin by saying that it’s very good to be here tonight in Pang and listening to the excellent statements from Kugluktuk and from Mrs. Williams and of course from Mr. McLean who puts us in a very good mood.
Mr. Speaker, in 1995 as a member for the Iqaluit Capital Campaign, we had as our slogan, Iqaluit for all of Nunavut.
Today, almost 7 years later, we have a new territory, Iqaluit is our capital, and our community of Iqaluit has experienced unprecedented increases in infrastructure, population, administrative, logistical and financial needs.
The business of the community and running the city of Iqaluit is complex.
Mr. Speaker, with the current elections for council in Iqaluit, we have had an excellent group of residents put their names forward for elected office.
Mr. Speaker, I respectfully suggest that the time has come for Iqaluit to have a full time paid position for mayor.
This in no way, Mr. Speaker, diminishes the current role of our current mayor but defines the need that with the administrative and the growth Mr. Speaker, we have experienced and that we have spoken about, I believe that there is a requirement to make the position full time.
Mr. Speaker, to facilitate this the remuneration as well as the administrative support need to be put in place to attract and interest residents of Iqaluit to run for a position of a full time mayor.
Mr. Speaker, I would urge our city council to move forward and explore the opportunities presented by having a full time elected mayor for our community in time for the next full council elections.
Member’s Statement 188 – 1(6): Recognise or Commemorate Inuit Culture
Mr. Irqittuq (interpretation): Mr. Speaker, I am very pleased this evening to rise in the House to talk about the visitor’s centre that we visited this evening.
It made me think of all the possibilities.
I walked down to the beach today and down at this spot on the beach, there is a plaque that has been attached to a boulder and it gives you the history of the whaling era.
The whaling history of Pangnirtung is alluded to.
The first whalers that came in here to the Pangnirtung area, it is something that we should be very proud about and of course they are remembered and respected and therefore they’re shown respect with the commemorative plaque put there by the beach.
But Mr. Speaker, the Inuit have yet to see a plaque commemorating the history of the first people, the Inuit who first inhabited this part of the country.
We have yet to see plaques celebrating the history of the original people.
Mr. Speaker, I do know that the first ships came in the 1600’s, well the whalers came here in the 1600’s but our ancestors came here thousands and thousands of years before 1600 and there is no such commemoration of our ancestors who settled Baffin Island.
I say this because we have to respect, honour and commemorate our ancestors and I saw that today when I saw the plaques down there on the beach.
My lines of reasoning are like this.
Our ancestors lived when there was no glass, no metal, and no wood and they survived in this harsh environment without any of the present resources that we use today.
The only modes of transportation, tools, and utensils were made of rock and bones or whatever material was available.
They constructed clothes, material and rope out of hides and made every tool that was needed and we have to show our respect to our ancestors for their ingenuity and persistence in surviving in the Arctic.
If it were not for our ancestors, every single one of us here, Inuit and non-Inuit would not be here today.
We have to set aside some funding so that we could commemorate our ancestors and their place and role in our present day society.
Member’s Statement 189 – 1(6): Pond Inlet in Need of Break Water
I’m from Pond Inlet and yesterday I mentioned the need for a terminal building in Pond Inlet.
Today I rise to expound upon the reasons for constructing a breakwater in my community.
This summer, an elder died from a boating incident where he was trying to use a small boat during a storm, to reach a bigger vessel whereby he bumped into the bigger vessel, fell in and died due to exposure.
At that time he was holding on to the anchor and there were people attempting to rescue him.
He was hanging on and then suddenly went limp and he had died of a heart attack which we later found out.
Due to the fact that we have no breakwater, we have a river close to our community that has fish in it and we call it Akua.
When the tide is in, usually we go to the river for shelter and for a wind break.
Since we don’t have a breakwater or a wharf we usually cannot go to the beach when the tide is low because its very shallow and you cannot go up.
When the water is rough you just can’t go to the breakwater that we currently have.
There were two boats that were lost due to high winds and every summer there is always a boat that overturns.
There is no breakwater or no boating facility.
This summer the wildlife boat, which is owned by Mr. Akesuk, the Minister from the Department of Sustainable Development also overturned and the outboards were perfectly new, now they are practically worthless.
There is always a boating incident every year because we don’t have any type of shelter for our boats.
I think I will ask the minister how much it cost him to replace these brand new outboards one of these days, not tonight.
To that end, I would like the minister to consider building a wharf in our community of Pond Inlet for the boat owners’ peace of mind, safety and in order to save costs.
Speaker: Members’ Statements. Mr. Alakannuark.
Member’s Statement 190 – 1(6): Thank Ministers – Education/CGT/CLEY
I have good news this evening.
I would like to thank the people of Kugaaruk.
An addition is being built to the school this summer and the trails towards the DEW line site are being used in our community to facilitate their fishing and hunting trips.
I would like to thank the Minister of Education and Community Government on behalf of the people of Kugaaruk and also I would like to extend my thank you to the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
Thank you very much for building those facilities.
The people of Kugaaruk will be a lot more comfortable and I smile to my colleagues on behalf of the people of Kugaaruk.
Member’s Statement 191 – 1(6): Slide Collection on CD-ROM
I thought that you had noticed me making an indication earlier.
There are a lot of Pangnirtung residents here, Mr. Speaker who are my constituents, today in the gallery.
I would like to give notice to the people of Pangnirtung that the House thanks you.
We mentioned it earlier in the minister’s statement.
We were given a slide collection on CD ROM that will be made available for viewing by the people of Pangnirtung.
In this slide collection, if you would like to download and get a copy, you could do so down at the Angmarlik Centre.
These are from 1957 to 1959 and I would like to thank the minister for his donation.
While we were down at the centre, we also recognized and thanked Elijah Keenainak for his contributions to the community.
He had helped a lot of people over the years through giving out food and promoting a healthy life style.
He was recognized and thanked at that time and when we go down to Recognition of Visitors in the Gallery I will take that time to make some recognitions.
We had a very good visit with the trolling ship and it gives us an idea of what the employees go through when they are working on the ships.
It’s here to offload some of their catch.
I would like to thank the Members of the Legislative Assembly for participating in those activities.
Mr. Speaker, I have lots of good friends here in Pangnirtung and while they’re here in the gallery I’m very happy and I would like to welcome everybody to the gallery.
I’m not going to say their names individually but I have a lot of friends here in the gallery and they’re very gracious hosts and we’re having a good time here and it seems like we just don’t have enough time to go to all the places we want to.
Further, I want to recognize my colleague yesterday Mr. Speaker, when I made a mistake during my line of questioning, you were able to direct me Mr. Speaker, and to the Minister of Finance and what I stated yesterday.
When I said that he wasn’t telling the truth, I’m very happy to say that they didn’t seem to mind when I inferred that they were lying, but they were able to respond to my question.
Please keep up the good work, so we won’t need to insinuate that you’re not telling the truth because you’re representing us and our people.
If this is the case, I will never again have to insinuate that you’re not telling the truth.
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to welcome to the gallery some of our relatives.
First of all, Meeka Arnakak, who worked with me about 15 years ago in 1987 as an adult educator when I had an opportunity, actually to be here in Pang and again as a home management educator in Iqaluit.
Sitting next to Meeka is Olay and Olay was at our house for Thanksgiving dinner a few weeks ago in Iqaluit.
We had a nice turkey and we had a lot of fun and Olay asked me to sing some songs so maybe later tonight maybe I’ll sing some more songs to the people of Pang, which she really enjoyed.
Mr. Speaker, I would also like to welcome to the gallery an excellent pilot, an entrepreneur and a business activist, a good friend of many of the members here and one of mine, Mr. Jimmy Onalik and I see that Jimmy just left but I’m sure he would have liked that introduction.
Next to Jimmy was Adamie Itorcheak. Adamie, of course, is our gift to the Bandwidth and to Nunanet and next to Adamie, where Adamie was sitting is a very well welcomed visitor from Nunavik in Northern Quebec, who needs no introduction to many people, Mr. George Berthe, I believe from the Makivik Corporation.
So, I’d like to welcome George.