EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
The Official Languages Bill and the Inuit Language Protection Bill will be introduced during the spring sitting of the Legislative Assembly.
Member’s Statement 102 – 2(4): Hudson Bay Quest (Alagalak)
I rise today to congratulate the Arviarmiut who took part in the Hudson Bay Quest. The Hudson Bay Quest is a dog team race from Arviat to Churchill.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, Darryle Baker was the youngest racer and he came in third place. He’s a very good role model for the younger generation because he participated in a long haul race for the first time in Arviat.
The oldest racer was Phillip Kigusiunak. (interpretation) He is over 70 years old and he is a life long dog team owner and is well respected for his participation in traditional life.
Philip finished in fourth place in the race.
I am very proud of him. His nickname is Tusarnaarut.
The other elder who participated in the race is Jimmy Mukpah.
He is respected for his volunteer work in my community.
As well, Andre Paniguniak participated in the race this year. He was the winner of the Hudson Bay Quest last year, between Churchill and Arviat. He is a long time dog team owner and a full-time hunter and trapper.
He is a very good role model.
He said it is okay that even if you are small, you can do great things.
If we didn’t have Andy Kowtak, I think this kind of program would not be available because he spends a lot of time helping out with organizing dog team events in Arviat.
Whoever wants to find out about the dog team races...
Speaker (interpretation): Mr. Alagalak, your time is up. The microphone was not on when you asked for consent to conclude.
Mr. Alagalak (interpretation): Yes, I am sorry. I was looking in front of me.
I would like consent to conclude my statement.
I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating the participants of the Hudson Bay Quest and encourage them to work hard with their teams to get ready for next year’s race. We should especially encourage the young people to continue on with the Hudson Bay Quest.
I know they do that here in the Baffin region.
I would also like to encourage them to continue with the dog races. Thank you, Mr. Speaker and colleagues for providing me with the extension for the conclusion of my statement.
Member’s Statement 103 – 2(4): Long Term service Awards in Clyde River (Arreak)
I would like to recognize the long time employees of the government from my community.
They are the workers in the communities in Nunavut.
They are: Bobby Joanas, five years, Graham Field, five years, Benjamin Hainnu, five years, Tommy Enuaraq, 10 years, Josie Tigullaraq, 10 years, Iga Sanguya, 10 years, Uriah Qaqqasiq, 15 years, Inuk Inuaraq 15 years, and the person that just passed away recently, I would also like to congratulate the individual that died last year, Piugatuk Kalluk; for government service for 20 years.
Mary Hainnu for 25 years.
These are the people that work for the Nunavut Government in my community and they received their long service awards.
Member’s Statement 104 – 2(4): Live-In Program Graduation (Peterson)
I rise today to inform the House about the second Live-In Program that was successfully completed in Cambridge Bay this week.
The Live-In Program is offered by the Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre for people who have made a personal decision to take charge of their lives and to take a stand against substance abuse that is harming them and those whom they love.
Nine individuals started the four week program.
I am proud to inform you that all of them will graduate from the program at a ceremony that will be held in the presence of family, friends, and invited guests at the community in Cambridge Bay this week.
The success of the Live-In Program is due in large part to the personal commitments and sacrifices that the participants made to better their lives.
They worked very hard to succeed in this community-based program. Because the program is held close to home they received a lot of support from their families and friends in the community.
There are many advantages for offering a program like this in the community.
Participants were able to support each other and all the staff were available to assist them if there were any personal issues that arose.
The ability to maintain contact with their families was also a contributing factor to the program’s success.
We have all heard about individuals who are sent to treatment centres and programs in the south.
Sadly, when they’re sent out and go on their own, they have no support mechanisms to help encourage them to succeed.
The result is that the individual usually returns to their community before the completion of the program, or after they complete the program, but quickly fall back into the grip of substance abuse.
I have spoken on several occasions in the past about the proactive efforts of the Cambridge Bay Wellness Centre. They are finding solutions to social issues that actually do help people closer to home to overcome personal issues so that they can go on to live happy and productive lives in their communities.
The Department of Health and Social Services funded the Live-in Program through funds received from the Northern Native Alcohol and Drug Addictions Program.
The department recognized the valuable contributions that the Wellness Centre makes to help people in Cambridge Bay to overcome the harmful effects of substance abuse.
Mr. Speaker, I would like the House to join me in congratulating the nine participants on the occasion of their graduation on Friday, March 30, and wish them happiness when they return to their families.
Member’s Statement 105 – 2(4): Original Coral Harbour Descendents (Curley)
I rise today to acknowledge and pay tribute to the very first ones that were born.
They said they all died off in 1900 in regard to social scientists’ and anthropologists’ documentation, that’s what they said: the first inhabitants for Coral Harbour all died off.
I can even say today that the tourism information, if you look at the tourism information, that’s talking about Coral Harbour, it states that the first people who lived on that island all perished in the beginning of the 1900s.
I can say that these people did not all perish.
There are still some original Sallirmiut people from Coral Harbour.
So therefore, it must hurt to see documentation in the schools stating that they all perished, but I can tell you that there are two individuals in Rankin Inlet who lived there and they are the third generations.
These are the individuals that come to talk to me when they go through hardships.
First of all, I would like to say in regard to that the information that we use for tourism can’t we correct them? Because it hurts the people when they say that these individuals all perished on that island and there are younger generations in Chesterfield Inlet, Rankin Inlet, Whale Cove, and also in Igloolik.
Also the minister said that he’s named after the original islanders in Coral Harbour, and one of the individuals, the original individual people went to Igloolik.
One thing I can say Mr. Speaker that the original Coral Harbour people, they were adopted and there were some survivors so I just wanted to acknowledge that.
Speaker (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Curley.
Member’s Statement 106 – 2(4): APTN Weather Forecasting (Kattuk)
Although I don’t want to just complain but I do want to make a statement.
First of all, I’m very proud of the map right beside you, and I’m very proud to see that the Belcher Islands, Sanikiluaq is included now.
One thing that I’m not proud to see is that the Aboriginal Peoples Television Network they, they have a weather channel and they talk about the weather and they don’t even include the Sanikiluaq weather forecast, when they include all the Northwest Territories and Nunavut communities but they don’t even include the Sanikiluaq islands in their weather forecasts.
I might have written a letter to the Aboriginal Peoples’ Television Network but to date they still have not included Sanikiluaq in their weather forecasts on the Aboriginal Peoples’ Television Network so I need to voice this because there has been a concern raised in my constituency.
They say that Sanikiluaq residents believe that they feel forgotten. There are, the population is 750.
The weather forecasts in the computer you can see, if you can look for Nunavut … that would include all the forecasts for Nunavut, it should include Sanikiluaq Belcher Islands in Aboriginal Peoples’ Television Network weather forecasts.
Hon. Paul Okalik: Merci Monsieur Presidente.
Je voudrais faire beinvenue au Membres de l’Association Francophonie aujourd’hui a la chambre, specifiquement M. Arnault et M. Cuerrier. (interpretation)...and Mr. Speaker I would like to welcome the President of Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated, Paul Kaludjak and his officials, Nathan Ovide, Navarana Beveridge, and Virginia Lloyd.
Hon. Olayuk Akesuk (interpretation): I would like to recognize some individuals from my constituency who are visiting in the Gallery; Pitseolala Manning and Annie Petaulassie. I would like to welcome them into the Gallery. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I too would like to acknowledge an individual from my community Elizabeth Awa and welcome to the Legislative Assembly.
Thank you, I would like to welcome you to the Gallery for those visiting the Assembly this morning.
Question 139 – 2(4): Implementation of the Family Abuse Intervention Act (Barnabas)
Good morning and also to my colleagues. (interpretation ends) My question today is for the Minister of Justice.
Mr. Speaker, there have been concerns in the community of Resolute Bay with respect to how the RCMP are handling domestic violence disputes.
The concern is that too many couples are being separated by court order and are not allowed to see each other; being a small community some breaches do tend to happen causing individuals to be arrested as a result.
Mr. Speaker, can the minister update us today on the implementation of Family Abuse Intervention Act.
We are now planning workshops on how to work with the Family Abuse Intervention Act and we are now working with the departments.
We’re looking at ways on how we can best utilize our staff and we would like to start implement this in December and I know we will need to find additional funding perhaps this coming spring.
My constituents have told me that they want to see a greater role for elders in providing counselling. The Family Abuse Intervention Act indicates that a community intervention order may include a provision directing that the applicant and respondent attend traditional Inuit counselling with a specified traditional counsellor.
Can the minister indicate today for the public record how the department will identify these counsellors to do this important work in our communities?
We are now in the planning stages with the assistance of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and Health and Social Services.
We are now working together to start planning on this and I know that it is going to be beneficial for all of Nunavut.
The Act now allows in certain circumstances for a person to be removed from home if they pose a danger to others.
I agree that people need to be protected.
However, given the housing shortage in Nunavut, the question where these people will physically go after they have been removed is unclear.
Can the minister indicate to the House how this issue will be addressed?
In the past the dangerous people would be left behind and this is a very important issue and we want to be very careful in dealing with that.
As I stated before, we are now in planning for the implementation stage so therefore I cannot respond to you. Our officials and the departments will work together to start planning on that.
Mr. Barnabas (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the Premier.
I know that the elders have to be acknowledged and recognized if they’re going to be counselling.
How are you going to be using traditional knowledge so that you can give certification to the elders that will be counsellors?
I’m not too sure of whether we will certify the elders.
So at this time I have no idea of how we will best implement this Act. Our goal is to utilize traditional counselling services.
Question 140 – 2(4): Protection of Gravesites (Curley)
I would like to direct my question to Community and Government Services.
Mr. Speaker, as the minister knows, there are gravesites located both inside and outside of municipal boundaries.
In a number of cases, gravesites are not formally recorded or registered.
It has come to my attention that incidents have occurred where gravesites have been damaged by the operations of heavy equipment.
Can the minister tell me today whether her department is willing to investigate these kinds of incidents if they receive reports, and if not, why not?
Hon. Levinia Brown (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I thank the member for raising that question.
We have to be nice to each other.
This is very important and I feel for his concern.
The gravesites that are outside the communities, we don’t know whose responsibility they are but when they’re outside the boundary of the community, maybe it would be the responsibility of the Minister of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
I can have a discussion with him.
The gravesites that are within the hamlet boundaries are the responsibility of the hamlet, and there are many gravesites where there are no names.
Yes, these are very important and I can have a discussion with my colleague.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): I thank the minister for her response.
As the minister knows, we have elders who would prefer to be laid to rest at places outside of municipal graveyards.
In these cases the places have special meaning to them, such as their birthplaces.
Will the minister commit to working with local elders’ groups to ensure that their final resting places will remain undisturbed?
As I stated earlier, this is very important, and just last month in January or February, this elder wanted to be buried in their preferred site and we honoured his request.
It’s up to the individual.
Yes, I would like to see this. As a minister I would try and conform to their requests. I can work with my colleague because I believe he’s responsible and you mentioned that the hamlets are responsible for the gravesites.
If there are damages by the heavy equipment, then they can be dealt with by the RCMP and that’s the information that I have received.
Yes, I will work on this.
Mr. Curley (interpretation): Yes, I understand the minister’s response.
There’s about two or three elders who don’t wish to be buried in the local graveyard, and I understand that it is the responsibility of the hamlet.
I’m talking about that because for the old gravesites there is no registration or records being kept as to who was buried where outside the community.
It’s to benefit the descendants of that person.
My second supplementary: what compensation may be available to the families of people whose graves have been damaged or desecrated?
The hamlets have bylaws in regard to the graveyards.
Maybe we have to revisit their bylaws to make sure that they’re more secure.
If there are instances like that, if they’re damaged, maybe within that bylaw, if it specifies, it would be better for the family.
We definitely will have to make a plan to record and register the deceased in certain places.
The hamlets and Community and Government Services, they’re both listening and I will be advising them as to what they should be working on.
That’s all I have for now, Mr. Speaker. Thank you.
Question 141 – 2(4): Repatriation of Artefacts (Mapsalak)
In the near future there will be a museum being erected. Nunavummiut have artefacts that are down south and a lot of them are overseas.
Will the minister repatriate those cultural artefacts?
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Yes, while we’re making plans for the cultural centre, we will have to produce a strategy as to how we would repatriate the artefacts.
The Inuit Heritage Trust, under section 33, it specifies that we have to work with the Inuit Heritage Trust.
We are currently starting talks on this, especially for the artefacts that are outside of Nunavut.
It is clear. Those artefacts were just taken from Nunavut without asking or getting permission.
Does the minister expect that those things will be repatriated?
Speaker (interpretation): Minister of Culture, Minister Tapardjuk.
This will require quite a bit of work. We have to try to plan for what would be the easiest way.
The Ottawa Museum of Civilization holds artefacts that were taken from Nunavut.
As a government, we have to try and negotiate and work together but we have to think about it.
For those individuals that are private collectors, we will have to consider how we are going to try to work with them.
There are people in the United States, England, Rome, Denmark and elsewhere outside Canada that, if we want to repatriate the artefacts, we would have to make careful plans.
At this time, we are starting to consider this, but at this time, I can’t say exactly how it will work.
The minister has probably approached the federal government. Does he have any idea if he will get support from the federal government?
Minister of Culture, Minister Tapardjuk.
Under the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement, under Article 33, it specifically states that the federal government has agreed because they are also signatories of the Nunavut Land Claims Agreement. So for that reason, the federal government has supported this.
Does the minister have any idea as to how long this will be worked on, to repatriate the artefacts?
Minister of Culture, Mr. Tapardjuk.
Hon. Louis Tapardjuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. At this time, I can’t say what that will be. I can’t even say when I would be able to give a report.
But we are going to have a meeting in Rankin Inlet along with Inuit Heritage Trust on human remains.
After that meeting, I would be able to report. We are starting to have discussions with Inuit Heritage Trust along with other stakeholders.
Question 142 – 2(4): Polar Bears in the Hudson Bay Area (Kattuk)
Mr. Speaker, yesterday I directed a question to the Minister of Environment and his response was that within Hudson Bay the population of polar bears are losing weight.
I’d like to ask the minister: does he have any idea why they are losing weight?
I believe I responded to the member that we are trying to find out as to why they are losing weight around his area.
Can the minister tell me when this study will be completed?
Minister of Environment. Minister Netser.
When we do studies on polar bears, it’s just for a short time because we usually do studies in the fall.
So at this time I cannot state when exactly it will be completed.
Which population of polar bears are they doing a study on?
Exactly what location are they doing the study in?
We are doing a study in the western Hudson Bay population, but we constantly do a study around his area.
Mr. Kattuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. The people who are doing the studies, are they just biologists? Will the residents of Sanikiluaq be involved too?
Hon. Patterk Netser (interpretation): Thank you Mr. Speaker.
We will be working with the HTO in Sanikiluaq. While I’m the minister, I will be working with all the HTO’s in the communities.
Question 143 – 2(4): Program Funding for Energy Savings (Curley)
On March 19, the Premier and the Minister of Environment stated that there was going to be an additional $5 million to be used for EcoTrust. I believe it’s a three party agreement. Then there is the residual heat that would be used to heat up the government facilities and I’m sure that will reduce the cost of expenditures.
In regard to the private homeowners, there was a statement. The minister made a statement saying they were going to be looking at energy cost savings measures for homeowners. But I think that since we heard that the cookie crumbled, I think we are just left with just a little bit.
What kinds of programs are you going to be setting up to reduce energy consumption for buildings and homeowners?
Minister for Housing, Mr. Akesuk.
We will be working with the Minister responsible for Energy and with the Housing Corporation.
We’ve been looking at how we can reduce consumption in public facilities, for private homeowners, and for public housing.
We are looking at how we can retrofit the old houses to make sure that there’s less energy consumption.
We have to keep in mind that the energy costs are rising.
We would like further clarification because I believe that this program is new and is directed to private homeowners.
Is it possible for the minister to commit to making an additional report at the May session?
Since the Minister responsible for Energy has his hands on it already, and the cookie is crumbling, is it possible for you to commit to making a report in the May session?
Minister responsible for Energy, Mr. Akesuk.
We have already started working on reducing energy consumption for private homeowners, and for seniors and disabled persons.
We are looking at additional programs to benefit private homeowners.
Possibly in the fall I will have a clear idea of what we’re going to be proposing to do to reduce energy consumption.
Question 144 – 2(4): Incorporating Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in Court Sentences (Alagalak)
I will try to make sure that I keep focused on you.
I will direct my question to the Minister of Justice, our Premier.
The Inuit have been concerned about their culture and the retention of it. We have had a court system for a long time now but the Inuit are focusing on implementing Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit into the government departments.
Usually what happens is when there’s no judge available in Nunavut they retain one from outside of the Nunavut jurisdiction.
Usually when they’re up here they bring the customs of their province.
There is usually a big difference between the Nunavut judge practicing and a judge that has been retained from the south.
Usually the judges from outside of Nunavut give harsher sentences.
I would like to ask the Minister of Justice if this is true, or not?
The judges do their own sentencing, and I can’t really get into it but we’ve only got three judges in Nunavut practicing and we are trying to get an additional one to practice in Nunavut.
I have been having discussions with my federal counterpart so that we can get an additional judge to practice up here, possibly in the fall.
We have been working very closely with our federal counterpart because they want to see a fourth one.
They have a very heavy workload and with the jury trials, we do need additional judges.
Because we’ve only got three, we have to retain one from outside of Nunavut to make sure that we keep up with the caseloads.
In regard to retaining judges from outside of Nunavut, we hear that they practice differently. They just seem to have a free hand on how they sentence the people making an appearance in court.
When you retain a judge from outside of Nunavut, do you make sure that they are fully informed about the Inuit culture and tradition? Do you do that before they are sent up here?
It’s out of our hands. They are independent, as I said but I am urging my federal counterpart to appoint an additional judge.
We will keep lobbying the federal government to make sure that they appoint a fourth one who will learn the customs and traditions of the people up here.
All I can say is that we are trying to get a fourth judge. I can’t tell them how to carry out their jobs, but our federal counterparts are well aware that we need a fourth one.
I almost said judge. (interpretation ends) It is very difficult to believe those judges are on their own and they make their own rules. (interpretation) That’s what I’m getting from the Minister of Justice; he’s saying that they operate on their own and so on.
They’re working for the Nunavut Government and they’re providing a service to the people of Nunavut.
I don’t whether it was yesterday or the day before but we are going to be getting another lawyer in Nunavut.
I would like to urge the minister to make sure that we get a fourth judge. Using a judge from outside of Nunavut is not acceptable. I would like to urge the minister to make sure that we get a fourth one who will practice in Nunavut.