EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
We need to find out which artifacts are ours first before we start requesting or making those types of requests.
So the next issue will be to determine which artifacts belong to Nunavut.
All we have an idea of is roughly about 50% of the artifacts are from Nunavut.
Mr. Chairman, I know over the last year we have probably spent a considerable amount of dollars for services to the Government of the Northwest Territories.
I am just wondering if in this case if there are items that are on display at the Prince of Wales Heritage Centre which is displaying them as a way of attracting or bringing people into the centre to look at, if the minister would contemplate approaching them on assessing them some type of a rental fee or a show fee or whatever. I don't know how those types of things are handled at that level in different museums, but I know that usually when someone wants to send an exhibit around it costs somebody something.
So I am just wondering if that is a possibility that the minister would look at.
One of the things that we do is that we charge for displays when we have exhibits that travel throughout the country.
We don't charge for those types of services.
We like promoting our culture to anyone that may want to learn more about us, so we have to take that into account.
When we start making demands it may have a negative impact as we want to promote our culture and show it off to anyone that may want to learn about us.
Mr. Tootoo: I echo my colleague's answer over there, that was a good answer and like I said I wasn't aware of how these things were dealt with.
I just thought if there were fees charged for them elsewhere, there would be no reason why we shouldn't take advantage of that too.
But if the case is where they are just on loan, if that's the case I also have no problem with that.
I agree we do need to do everything we can to showcase our heritage and our culture, not only I believe within Canada, but throughout the world.
So, I would again thank the minister for his answer on that.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): You almost forgot me.
That 10 thousand dollars as you stated earlier, if there is less than 10 thousand dollars we shouldn't be too overly concerned about 10 thousand dollars.
That could be used in the communities for, I don't know what.
So you have set aside this funding so that communities can apply for it.
It is stated in our policy, we do have a policy for applicants and we do have a policy for grants less than 10 thousand dollars.
If any people apply for funding we truly believe that they will be using it for the purpose that they applied for.
So therefore they don't really need to make a report at the end of the project and they do not have to pay it back.
But if it is over the 10 thousand dollars we do have more rigid guidelines in the policy.
We do have to sign an agreement between the applicant and our department as to how the funding is going to be used if it's less than 10 thousand dollars we give them a letter stating that you should be utilizing your funding for the purpose of your application.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Yes, the funding that can be applied for by the communities.
Do all the communities know about the funding that they can apply for it.
Ms. Levi (interpretation): Yes, last year the program was not set up properly last year but this year the program for that purpose has been advertised to the public.
At the end of March we publicised the funding that people could apply for and that they have a deadline until April 19, to apply for funding.
Our staff will then review the applicants after May 19 and they have publicised this information through brochures and through the local radio station and through the media.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): We do have a local radio society in the community, do you give them financial support when they apply for funding for that purpose.
For the communication part, we do have a division for the communications.
The local radio societies, according to our policy when they apply we can give them funding up to 6 thousand dollars annually.
Also, when there are important or urgent issues we are able to give support to the local radio societies.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): The funding that is provided to the local radio societies of 6 thousand dollars.
Do you only supply that funding to the communities that apply for it.
We only supply the funding to the communities that apply for it because we know when the communities apply we know that it will be used for their local radio station.
All the communities in Nunavut do have local radio stations.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): In regards to the more important and urgent case, which you mentioned.
You said that you are able to provide them with additional funding.
What is considered as urgent or important.
The CBC provide support to the local radio stations and when their equipment gets too old they are given support by CBC.
CBC is not able to pay for all the support so therefore we are able to give them additional support on that to have proper equipment in the local radio stations in the communities.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): Many communities radio stations are broken down at times and they are unable to use their stations.
I should be asking my question to the CBC.
Do they change their equipment every 30 years.
Is that possible at the community level.
We are not responsible for renewing the radio equipment.
I think it is the CBC's jurisdiction and responsibility.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): If a community applies to get a local radio station, is there a policy where you can give a certain amount of support at the communities request.
Some communities, if they are able to raise funding on their own, then sometimes we do not necessarily need to give them support.
However, if they are unable to raise the funding on their own, we can review them.
So it is on a community by community basis.
Based on the individual communities.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): For the year 2000/2001, I will be asking a question about that.
In regards to the three types of funding, for example, when can I apply.
Can I apply for the top one if I want to get some form of assistance for anything in regards to social issues.
We make this funding available in Nunavut and anybody can apply.
We deal with the applicants on a case by case basis whether they want to get funding through the Women's Secretariat or whether they want funding to support them on Culture, Language, Elders & Youth.
So all these applicants vary from each other.
They either come from an individual or from an organization.
So they apply for various programs and we look at them case by case.
We give them funding according to the way they write their applications.
Mr. Nutarak (interpretation): One of my colleagues asked a question on what "qingungaasuk" means.
We have different dialects even in the Baffin region.
But if I am applying for funds and I wanted a one time contribution, according to what the Deputy Minister said, "qingungaasuk" means requesting financial assistance or applying for a grant.
That is just to give the viewers out there and the members here an idea of what "qingungaasuk" means.
I don't have any further questions.
Mr. Chairman, on page 7 of the business plan, the last one, the letter "k" there, it says to work with other Nunavut departments to help develop an effective Inuit Employment Plan.
I am just wondering what the departments' role is in this regard.
Does it consider itself a watchdog or an advocate, like an employment advisor.
How do they see themselves and what's their role in the process there.
Hon. Paul Okalik: I just want to recognize a visitor here, a former colleague who is articling in a law firm in Yellowknife, who worked as legal clerk for the Legislative Assembly in the GNWT and that was very supportive and helpful while I was articling in Yellowknife.
Ms. Sara Kay is here with us.
At these times I wish I was back in law practice and not sitting here.
Yes, our main role at Culture, Language, Elders & Youth is to deal with the cultural component of employment opportunities.
Human Resources deal more with employment opportunities, so that is our main role in Inuit Employment Plans.
Mr. Chairman, if I could just ask the minister to elaborate more on what he means by the cultural component of employment.
I don't understand, and would just ask if he could clarify that please.
Hon. Paul Okalik: People may have heard about Inuktitut language training in the work force for example.
Culture, Language, Elders & Youth have been involved in cultural awareness within the work force.
So that would be our main focus.
Mr. Chairman, I am sure that all the employees out there look forward to those types of programs being offered in their offices.
I know I wouldn't mind if I was offered in my office, if I worked for the government.
Just getting back to a comment that was made earlier by one of my colleagues and the reply from the Deputy Minister regarding programs available through the department.
I know for example, in the Department of Sustainable Development and other departments that have funding programs available out there, they publish and distribute program applications and what programs are available through that department.
Has the department developed or do they have such a program policy manual or pamphlets or whatever that can be distributed to communities so that communities, individuals and groups within Nunavut know what types of programs they can apply for.
Deputy Minister Levi.
With the applications, we produced a pamphlet that has been aired on the radio.
The youth groups in the communities and the Regional Inuit Organizations and the Hamlets and the Members of the Legislative Assembly were given information on what is available, what kinds of funds are available through our department.
Also in regards to the Inuit and French languages.
They were also produced in Inuktitut and French.
If there are requests out there we sent the application forms either by email or by fax. Thank you.
Mr. Chairman, just one quick question that arose.
The programs and the funding programs that the department made public as far as areas in which individuals, communities or groups could apply for funding, are those the only areas that applications were considered for, the programs that they have advertised for.
Yes, with the Women's Secretariat we have also produced pamphlets and those were given out to all the offices in Nunavut.
These are the only productions that we have made because we do not have staff who can produce such things.
We are looking forward to the summer and producing such information sheets.
Chairperson (interpretation): Thank you Ms. Levi.
Mr. Chairman, then just to clarify.
Those programs that the department had advertised are the only programs that they accepted any applications for and approved.
Ms. Levi: Thank you Mr. Chairman.
Those are the only programs that we run and they are the only ones that we advertised.
Are those the only applications that were approved that were under those programs that were advertised.
We have a policy that we use to approve funding proposals.
We also have guidelines that were given for our Inuktitut and French language agreement funding.
So we use those ones for approving grants and contributions.
This will be my last one for a while I will let Mr. Irqittuq ask some questions.
But, would the or could the minister and his staff make available a copy of her grants and contributions policy that they used, that she just talked about in approving any applications she received.
Chairperson: Deputy Minister Levi.
They are freely available and we can give you copies.
In February I was asking quite a number of questions in regards to Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and how it is going to be used within departments.
I had also submitted a number of letters on the same issue.
What kind of plans do you have for Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and if there is going to be a production of any kind when are they going to be coming out.
The Premier also stated that there is going to be a policy produced, when is that going to be.
Mr. Irqittuq please have patience.
Mr. Irqittuq …interpretation unavailable…
Chairperson: Mr. Premier
We will want to set aside some money.
We will set aside about thirty thousand and we will be setting up a committee.
We have been working with the NSDC while we are producing the policies and we came to an agreement and hope to give you a copy of how we hope it will be structured.
Has your department thought about who is going to be sitting on the committee that you mentioned.
Yes there will be six members.
Two from our office and two from NSDC and two from the Elders' Society.
That would be the composition of the committee.
This committee do you have the terms of reference for this committee.
I guess we have kind of a structure up there but it has not been approved yet.
It is somewhat available.
We are drafting them up but they are not approved yet and we cannot give it to you before the approval.
Who approves those.
We have been working very closely with the NSDC and we have to reach a consensus before we go anywhere.
The NSDC has been working very hard on the Inuit culture and stuff.
One more question Mr. Irqittuq.
The NSDC, I do not now exactly what NSDC does.
Could you elaborate on that Mr. Premier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Yes the NSDC under the land claims agreement that was created I believe through article 25 they have been appointed by the Inuit.
We have been working very closely with NSDC and I am sure you know their President Mary Wilman and once the finals are done they will have to be approved by the appropriate people and approved by the government.
I know that in regards to the youth centres I know that there is money available.
My question is in regards to travel of the suicide prevention team.
Do you pay for the expenses and how does it work.
We will be working on this issue for a long time and there has been little change to date.
We have not really reviewed these.
If you remember various departments like Health & Social Services do these and they will be involved in regards to suicide programs or suicide prevention programs.
So I cannot really answer how different departments are dealing them with.
Also on the same subject, the young people have visiting centres or centres for the youth and they have opened an old building in my community and it is renovated by the young people and that is what we use as the youth centre.
There are various communities in Nunavut that have those youth centres and I just wondered whether there is any funding to do renovations on those youth centres.
If there are renovations needed for the youth centres this money can be used for that and it is open too for applications for the youth centres.
If there is about 1000 population in a community they will be able to apply for that funding for renovations for that centre.
So many of the small communities do not have heritage centres.
The minister stated that they will be using the heritage centres or the museums would be used for exhibiting artifacts.
What purpose would that be for the communities that do not have them.
Like I stated I am open to the public if they want to start up a heritage centre or a museum.
Perhaps the concern is mostly to do with Cambridge Bay who already had a heritage centre before it burnt down.
This would be very useful for the communities of the Kitikmeot and the other communities could do the same thing to teach the youth about their heritage.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you Mr Chairperson.
The Federal Government when they first started bringing about national parks we had sod houses and other artifacts in that environment and whenever it becomes a park it cannot be touched by the people because it is a federal operation.
How does the heritage centre do more stuff or would they be able to put in artifacts into their heritage centre.
I can say that we have repatriated some artifacts especially in Iqaluit.
We have a museum and one in Baker Lake with some artifacts that we cannot take because they do not have room for them.
So we will start museums as long as there are artifacts to be put into the museums and the heritage centres.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Yes I understand this.
Someone said that there are some artifacts in Winnipeg and at the Prince of Wales Museum in Yellowknife.
I just wondered what it would cost for the operations of a heritage centre.
Ms. Levi (interpretation): We have an agreement in place with the GNWT through the Department of Education and it states that if we want to repatriate artifacts we could keep them in their museums if we don't have a building of our own.
Such things as artifacts and old books and if they were going to be given to us from other communities or other places they would be kept at the heritage centre or in the museum in Yellowknife.
We do not have a building as such right now.
The agreement states that if we are going to take artifacts that we have to keep them in the Yellowknife museum.
The artifacts that are in the museums we can't get them and I have read the book " Give Me My Father's Body ".
I think there are some artifacts that an individual could not get like that body from the museum.
The artifacts that belong to the Inuit people.
What happens to those artifacts.
Ms. Levi or Mr. Premier.
In the same way they have to have a place.
If they are lost or if they are damaged then our heritage goes along with it.
However, according to the agreement that was signed in 1993 if they are in a museum in the north then we can repatriate them to Nunavut.
It states here that the computers and Internet access will be in the heritage centres.
So for those communities that do not have funding for heritage centres will they be provided with computer and Internet access just like the one that will be put in Cambridge Bay.
The computers are in the heritage centres so elders that have traditional knowledge can have that knowledge put into the computers.
That is what they are there for.
Mr. Barnabas
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): I wonder if the Premier could justify the money that states the objective they are doing according to the Bathurst Mandate, at the year 2020.
I just wondered what that means if we have the libraries in the heritage centres.
Yes it is very enjoyable to see the elders urging to get something published.
They have already set aside quite a bit of money for that museum and they have been instrumental in urging to get the heritage centre.
In the community they have lost their culture and they are just urging their children and their grandchildren to come up with, so they could teach their young people how there culture and tradition was.
You have to look at Nunavut as a whole region and we have a most fragile culture.
The elders are there to give support to the young people and if we just stop them they will have no place to go so that is why I am in support of their requests.
They took the initiative on their own.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you. I am very happy to hear the Premier say that because in other communities our elders are working very hard and they have a huge challenge ahead of them and they do not even have heritage centres in their community.
Yes I feel for the elders but there are other communities that do not even have heritage centres.
Although we have consensus government it does not really mean that.
I would also like to ask the Premier again here it states…interpretation unavailable…
The one that burned down was a heritage centre and it was part of the school.
Even before Nunavut was created we were trying to establish the same heritage centre so as to enhance the culture and we are very open in the future in the communities to provide them with the facilities so we do not want to use it in one community and have the other communities be envious and jealous about it.
Before we go to the capital, I would like to have regular caucus meet and we will be back after the caucus is over.
Chairperson (interpretation): Is that a motion.
There is a motion to hold a regular caucus meeting.
According to the vote there were five who voted for and six against so you cannot have a regular caucus.
It is now time to go into detail.
Please ring the bell.
Chairperson (interpretation): Good afternoon.
I you would like to go to the detail.
Are you agreed to go into details.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you. Mr. Chairman, in regards to the question we have just asked I would just ask the minister if he is committed to the question we just asked earlier.
Hon. Paul Okalik (interpretation): Committed to what.
Chairperson (interpretation): Mr. Barnabas could you clarify your question please.
Regular members have been asking questions in regards to the amendments we had asked about.
Are you going to go ahead with the requests that we just made.
Chairperson (interpretation): The member Mr. Barnabas is asking about the questions or the recommendations that the regular members had proposed about the goals and objectives.
Are they going to go forward.
Mr. Barnabas could you use an example as to what the objectives are.
Clarify your question with an example please.
In regards to the one heritage centre that is going to be used for one community and I know that there are other communities that would like to use some of that money. Are you going to go ahead with the heritage centres in the communities.
Chairperson (interpretation): I think Mr. Barnabas your question is clear now.
This was geared towards Cambridge Bay. This 500 thousand was going to Cambridge Bay but we want to be very open to the communities, in the future if the communities want to establish their heritage centres, after reviewing them.
I would like to see more heritage centres in the communities.
Yes, we have had some problems with this issue.
Although we would like to see that heritage centre go ahead, but we want to take some of the money out and make it available to the other communities.
Are you willing to commit to our request.
We want to take out 400 thousand dollars and distribute that 400 thousand dollars to the other communities.
Yes this has been planned for quite some time.
I think it has been two years.
It will not be completed for another two years.
If you want to take some of the money out for that budget and if you wanted to distribute it to the other communities we are open.
Although I understand that you will be open it just means being open.
You can close it at any time you want.
So I am asking are you committed, do you agree with us to take some of that money out.
Yes, if you want to take that part of the money out we are able to do that this fiscal year, down to 200 thousand and the 300 thousand would be made available to the other communities if there are other communities that request it.
This year we would have to set aside 200 thousand dollars and I am sure that we would be open to more in the future.
I have a few questions relating to the budget amount there.
But just on the Premier's last comment. I believe he said that he would be open to reducing the amount of that capital this year down to 200 thousand and next year allocating another 200 thousand for that project.
That's a total of 400 thousand dollars.
Does that mean the actual costs for that project have all of a sudden dropped to 400 thousand from 500 thousand.
It was saved for around 500 thousand dollars and in the spirit compromise we thought we should cut it further to try and appease the concerns of all members of this legislature.
So we are willing to commit 400 thousand dollars for the project over a two-year period.
I believe that will please the members and I believe that is what they were getting at is that they would like to see other communities to be able to have access to that funding.
Getting back to my earlier questions about the budget.
In the capital estimates and the main estimates that were tabled within the House as well as the capital substantiation sheets, the amount under Culture, Language, Elders & Youth for heritage centres it says, not heritage centre, as turns out to be the case, was listed in those documents as various Nunavut communities.