EdinburghNLP/nunavut-hansard-plusplus huggingface dataset:
And from that humble beginning, Beth developed the Arctic Youth Art Initiative.
This initiative has blossomed as a result of Beth’s concern over social issues with the youth of Nunavut and now involves several hundred children, including a branch in Clyde River.
She is helping children discover their talents and take pride in their own artistic creations.
She is showing them respect and giving them something to look forward to and something to be proud of.
The cards the children produce are sold to the public and the proceeds are re-invested in projects that benefit youth.
Mr. Speaker, on behalf of the Arctic Youth Art Initiative, whose coordinator, like I said Beth McKenty, is here today.
I am pleased to present members of the House with a set of pictures painted by youth in the program. (interpretation) I hope this serves as an example of the good work that ordinary Nunavummiut can accomplish on behalf of the youth of Nunavut with the support of the Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth.
Ministers’ Statements. Are there any further Ministers’ Statements?
If not we’ll move onto Member’s Statements. Mr. Havioyak.
Member’s Statement 304 – 1(6): Kugluktuk Search and Rescue
I would like to rise today as you probably are aware, there is a search going on and I rise today to pay tribute to the efforts of the Kugluktuk Search and Rescue Society.
Mr. Speaker as we sit here today, numerous volunteers are searching for Charlie Oqanaq, one of my constituents.
Charlie has been lost on the land since last weekend and as we sit here today the search is continuing.
Mr. Speaker, I want to encourage my community to stick together and hang in there, during this difficult time.
Mr. Speaker I also want to express my appreciation for the members of the Canadian Armed Forces, who have joined the search and have deployed equipment.
For that I would like to express my appreciation.
One of the facts of northern life is the need for a strong search and rescue infrastructure in our communities. (interpretation ends) I applaud the effort to provide training and resources to those very volunteers who risk themselves to locate people that are lost on land.
Uqaqti, in July of this year, the Kugluktuk Search and Rescue Society was honoured with the Commissioner’s Award for volunteer service.
(interpretation) I ask all members to join me in support of my community on this urgent matter.
Thank you, colleagues and thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Speaker: Thank you. Mr. Havioyak.
Member’s Statement 305 – 1(6): Term and Meaning of Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit
Mr. Speaker, first of all I would like to say I love you to my children and to Lynda if they are watching TV.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to mention an issue that has been an ongoing issue within the Government of Nunavut.
It’s Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
The saying Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is a new term that is being used today, it wasn’t used in my Grandfather’s time or in my time.
It is something that was created by the Government of Nunavut as Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit.
What Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit means is Inuit traditions, the Inuit customs, the Inuit Wisdom and the Inuit Skills.
It means the whole aspect of survival.
Survival through subsistence hunting is an Inuit tradition and it also means life skills or social skills.
When you use the word Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit it encompasses the whole thing, and every single aspect of it should be included if we are going to have Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit in the departments.
It means the ability, the skill, the cooperation among the Inuit and the customs and traditions.
We all know that our forefathers did not have glass but what was readily available out there; they didn’t have any kind of metals at all.
There was no metal in the land before the Europeans came when they were still living the traditional Inuit lifestyle.
Mr. Speaker, I would like unanimous consent to conclude my statements.
That’s the way I understand the term Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit and that’s the true meaning of it.
The word Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is our customs and counselling in Inuktitut.
As I said earlier, there was no metal that was available, there were no motors, and there was no electricity.
Everything that was used was from the land; there was nothing readily made.
You had to make it yourself for shelter, which was made out of snow and built into a shelter.
We were able to make fire and make our own clothing.
That was through their survival skills.
If it wasn’t for them, if it wasn’t for their skill and their wisdom and their ingenuity, we wouldn’t be here today.
We are told that our land was ice and frozen and it was uninhabitable; that used to be said before.
They said there was absolutely nothing up here.
We only had the animals that we survived on.
Today we have the modern technology but Inuit Qaujimajatuqangit is a new word that is being used today and I wanted to make an explanation.
It is the true essence of the Inuit culture.
Member’s Statement 306 – 1(6): Book By Bernard Fransen
A long time ago when the missionaries came up to our land around 1912, they settled in Chesterfield Inlet but then afterwards there were more and more Europeans coming in.
In 1953, a young European Missionary came to Repulse Bay when I was living there and we called him Iqsiraayuaquluk and his English name was Bernard Fransen; I didn’t know that he had an English name but we called him our own.
But he was a young Missionary and he used to go to different communities like Chesterfield, Cape Dorset, Igloolik, Rankin Inlet, Arviat, and also to Repulse Bay.
When he was going from community to community he took snapshots or photographs that have now been produced in a book.
These are just some samples of the kind of pictures that he took but I’m sure that this book will hit the book stores before Christmas and it will be an excellent Christmas present.
In support of Father Fransen, he’s no longer a missionary and he now lives in Penticton, British Columbia.
When I showed it to one Cape Dorset resident he said that this would be a very good educational tool to put out to the schools and should be used to teach the children.
If you wanted to get a nice Christmas present this would be good and it shows people from all over Nunavut and you will recognize and recall those times.
I’m not quite sure exactly which bookstore it will be available in, but I’m sure that it will be available through the Arctic Cooperatives.
If you would like to get further information on where to get it, you can call my department.
It is an excellent book and it also builds another layer on your foundation.
These photographs were taken in the 50’s; he was also in Repulse Bay in 1953.
But just to let you know that this book will soon be available to recollect the 1950’s era of Inuit culture and see who the people are in there.
Member’s Statement 307 – 1(6): Monument for Women in Nunavut
Mr. Speaker, because of the unconditional love a mother gives to her children and because a child is closer to his or her mother than father, as a child grows up into this world.
We especially as men should never hurt women physically, mentally or sexually.
There must not be discrimination against women anywhere in the public or public service, or anywhere else.
Women in Nunavut must feel safe at home, at the workplace, on the land or anywhere on the face of the earth.
Mr. Speaker, I would recommend that this Legislative Assembly build a monument recognizing zero tolerance in Nunavut.
I would also recommend that the current Members of the Legislative Assembly be placed on this monument.
Member’s Statement 308 – 1(6): DFO Studies and IQ
Mr. Speaker, I rise today to talk about the marine mammals.
The main diet of Inuit is marine mammals.
As a former full time hunter I think I have seen just about all marine mammals.
We have been living here for thousands and thousands of years.
As someone has stated earlier, there were no modern tools available, but we have used the resources in the environment; the rocks that we have used and moved since we have been living here for many, many years.
It’s been hundreds of years that we would go bowhead whale hunting.
Then the commercial bowhead whalers that came from the south to hunt up here.
Since 1945, there has been status on the arctic borders.
But Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that DFO are not utilizing the skills or the knowledge of the long time Nunavummiut residents.
They have been here for many, many years to do studies on Inuit and the environment around us.
They have barely utilized the knowledge of the Inuit.
It is only after the fact that they finally gave us the results of those studies and put quotas on what they consider to be endangered species.
DFO should be more supportive of the Inuit and also teach us, as marine mammals are a major part of our lives. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Member’s Statement 309 – 1(6): Elders Involvement in the Court
My name is Mr. Nutarak, somebody mentioned Mr. Nutarak.
Sometimes people go to court when they break the law.
Sometimes there are elders who are part of the sentencing group and they get their say in court.
The elders in the communities are involved when the court circuit comes to the community.
I just wanted to mention that so people will know. I just wanted to bring that up.
Member’s Statement 310 – 1(6): Firearms Challenge
I would like to thank our Premier. He mentioned from the Department of Justice, the issue of firearms and this has been an issue for quite some time.
Mr. Speaker, I would like to say that the Inuit within Nunavut, or even outside of Nunavut, we are here because of our great, great grandparents who were here before it was called Canada.
Mr. Speaker, even before the creation of the Government of Canada, we were here.
Even before there was any legislation in the North our people have been here.
We are unique aboriginal people.
We have our own customs and culture.
We should not have been treated like any other everyday Canadians.
Mr. Speaker, under Article 5 with the Federal Government we agreed and they said that they would look after us and our legislation once we get Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, why does the Federal Government, if they believe Article 5, why are they trying to take the rights away from our hunters and putting legislation on top of that?
What I am trying to say, Mr. Speaker, is even before anyone came to Nunavut we were here.
We have our own way of thinking and customs.
We don’t want legislation being passed on to us as if we were just ordinary people.
The statement that the Minister made is very serious and I am very proud that they are working with NTI.
Member’s Statement 311 – 1(6): Devolution – Key to Long Term Self Reliance
Uqaqti, today I would like to express at my shock and outrage at the attitude of the Colonial Federal Government during the issues of devolution.
Uqaqti, it’s no secret that Nunavut is too reliant on federal transfers.
Members of this house have spoken with one voice on the need for Nunavut to work towards greater self-reliance in economic development.
Uqaqti, our call for progress in this area has been echoed and supported on the national stage.
In August 2000, the Premiers of Canada's ten provinces, and three territories made the following statement.
“Premiers call on the federal government to work with Nunavut, the Yukon and the Northwest Territories to provide economic development assistance and to promote strategic private sector investment now in order to maximize benefits for economic growth.”
The Premiers agreed that a strong northern economy will reduce the dependency and be beneficial to all Canadians.
Premiers support the three territories in their effort for devolution of complete jurisdiction over Crown land, minerals and natural resources.
Devolution is the key to long term economic self reliance, and sometimes, I doubt that the federal government wants the territories to have that.
Government in the north must be done in a manner that is respectful of the priorities and values of every territory.
Uqaqti, I was more than upset to hear the Minister of the Indian Affairs and Northern Development say last week that Nunavut isn’t ready for devolution.
It’s an outrage.
Some Members: Shame, shame
Mr. McLean: Uqaqti, I may be just a simple guy from Qamanittuaq but I know double talk when I hear it from the federal government.
We’re told by Ottawa again and again that there is no more money for genuine investment in our infrastructure that’s the worst in Canada, if not North America.
Investment would help us develop our economic potential and they obviously think the Canadian Government is threatened by that up here.
We’re told not to complain, or else we get no money, the federal government will say we have no money so don’t’ complain up there about the levels of transfers that we receive and we’re told to sit down and wait out in hallways in Ottawa, when it comes to anything that we want up here.
The time for devolution is now.
Uqaqti, I am not pleased with this attitude at all.
I urge all members in this house and other people in Nunavut to say to the federal government that you’re not happy with it.
On the end of that, Mr. Speaker, I would like to say the royal commission spent millions and millions of dollars on the royal commission in this country on aboriginal affairs, on housing and things like that and it sits on shelves in Ottawa today. Now today I was listening to TV, the Romanow Report comes up, and we’ve got the worst statistics probably in North America when it comes to health care and life expectancies and things like that.
What will happen, I guarantee you being a thirty year northerner, is that it will sit on the shelf and collect dust also.
Speaker: Members’ Statements. Are there any further Members’ Statements?
Member’s Statement 312 – 1(6): Report from Federal Minister of DIAND
Mr. Speaker I also rise today to express how appalled I was to hear the Federal Minister's of Indian Affairs and Northern Development comments in regards to devolution.
Mr. Speaker sometimes I think a more accurate title would be Minister of Northern Underdevelopment.
Mr. Speaker we know that the North is a treasure trove of natural resources.
We know we have amazing potential areas such as diamond and gold mining, as well as other natural resources.
And we know that the royalties go down south to the federal government.
Mr. Speaker, this dialogue is not unique to Nunavut; in Atlantic Canada provincial governments had to fight tooth and nail to combat the short-sighted federal instincts to claw back dollars from equalisation payments.
And provinces are successful in generating new revenues from oil and gas development.
Mr. Speaker, the Northwest Territories Minister of Finance, Mr. Joe Hanley, within the last couple of months has publicly stated that he felt they were being screwed by the federal government, in respect of their royalties.
Mr. Speaker, when it comes to fairness to the smaller provinces and territories, federal myopia is a terrible condition.
I am not at all confident that today’s report from the Romanow Commission will clear as my colleague from Qamanittuaq would say.
Mr. Speaker, I was particularly disturbed to see the Minister quoted as saying he’ll eventually get to Nunavut.
Mr. Speaker, I am confident that the Members of this House are not satisfied with vague timelines and weak commitments.
I’m not satisfied with the benign neglect we receive from Ottawa.
I’m not satisfied with the Federal Government that purports to represent all Canadians but has yet to agree to a comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the single biggest region in the nation.
If we are ever to achieve our goals of self sufficiency and self reliance, Mr. Speaker, a goal that the Federal Government has stated it shares with us. we need a real partnership from the federal government
And I look forward to the day when Ottawa also looks closely and sees this simple fact.
I’d just like to caution the Members to be careful of their use of wording in their statements.
Member’s Statement 313 – 1(6): National Children’s Day
I rise today to show my appreciation for the children that are here.
December 20 is National Children’s Day.
I’d like to recognize the children that are here and their parents and teachers as well.
They are observing what they can do when they grow up. One day one of them might be a Speaker or member, and I encourage them to stay in school so they can become Members like us.
Thank you. I am very happy to recognize some people from Tibet.
They are doing research on how they could become more self reliant and to learn about economic development.
(interpretation ends) Mr. Speaker, I’m pleased to recognize a group visiting from Tibet and they are doing a study touring Canada to acquire knowledge and new perspectives on the approaches to poverty reduction and economic diversification.
Uqaqti, excuse my pronunciation so I’ll start with:
Mr. Baito – Deputy Director – Poverty Alleviation Office - TAR
Mr. Gyaltsen – Deputy Governor – Shannan Prefecture - TAR
Madam Drolkar – Director – Foreign Trade Bureau – Shannon Prefecture - TAR
Mr. Lu Zhenming – Vice Party Secretary – Franang Country - TAR
Mr. Dorji Rabden – Director – Poverty Alliance Officer – Naqu Prefecture - TAR
Madam Dawa Chodron – Deputy Director People’s Congress – Dranang Country - TAR  Excuse my pronunciation.
Mr. Pu Nyima – Deputy Governor – Nagu County - TAR
I’m sorry, Mr. Lungjun – Deputy Director – Nierong County - TAR  >>Applause
Mr. Benda Kelsang – Section Director – Foreign Trade Bureau – Shannon County - TAR
Madame Dekyi Peldron.
Mr. Yunden Nyima.
>>Applause Mr. Paul Derksen.
And our Human Resources Government of Nunavut employee, Mr. Darrel MacKenzie.
And the, I am sorry, I don’t know the name, I am sorry, the interpreter for the group.
Thank you for doing the introduction.
Hon. Peter Kilabuk (interpretation): Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I wanted to recognize the students here but they’ve left so I’ll just wish my son to do well in school.
I was told that his report card was very impressive so I am proud.
Mr. Speaker, this must be a record for me.
Two days in a row I have a constituent from Cambridge Bay here in the Gallery.
A long-time friend, Mrs. Junna Ehaloak.
Question 308 – 1(6): Authority of DEA’s to Carry out Duties
Mr. Speaker, according to Section 117.1(p), of the current Education Act, which describes the duties and powers of education bodies, the District Education Authorities shall monitor, evaluate, and direct the delivery of school programs to assure the highest possible education standards in schools.
In fact, this duty is reinforced in the regulations of the District Education Authorities.
Section 7.1 (n) of the Iqaluit District Education Authority Regulations reads that the Iqaluit District Education Authority shall monitor, evaluate, and direct the delivery of school programs to assure the highest possible education standards in the schools.
Mr. Speaker, the Iqaluit District Education Authority has attempted to do just that within and according to the law.
The IDEA has researched this issue and contacted authorities with the Alberta Government who are prepared to work with them on conducting standardized assessment testing and are ready to proceed.
However, it appears that Officials of the Department of Education have stepped in and will not allow the DEA to perform this duty.
My question to the Minister is under what authority has the regional arm of the Department of Education stepped in and not given the green light to the Iqaluit District Education Authority for the ability to carry out its duties as they are prescribed in law and regulations.
First of all, it is included in the new proposed Act, but in regards to his question which authority the Department has.
At this time I don’t know so therefore I cannot respond to his question.
Mr. Speaker, I can be assured, I guess, that the minister and his staff will look into that authority.
I just want to clarify that he indicated that those provisions are in the new proposed act.
The provisions I quoted are in the existing act as we’re operating under it right now.
And I understand, Mr. Speaker, that this is an issue that the IDEA has been pursuing for quite some time and they seem to be getting stalled by officials at QSO and the Department of Education.
I’d like to ask the minister if he in fact agrees that this authority is spelled out under law and legislation and that the department will immediately give the green light to the District Education Authority to go ahead with this.
At this time under the current Education Act we try to work with the District Education Authorities with their bylaws and we try to find out what kind of responsibilities they can do.
We receive various information pieces from the communities because each community has different kinds of concerns, but the policies and regulations that are outlined here can be used.
Mr. Speaker, I know the first section I quoted was from the actual Education Act of the piece of legislation that we are following and the second piece is from the regulations specific to the Iqaluit District Education Authority.
And as the minister indicated, each District Education Authority in the communities has their own sets of regulations and I wasn’t concerned about all of them.
This was just a specific one that I looked at.
It reinforces the actual clause in the section in the actual act.
But again, I would like to ask the minister if the department officials rediscover the fact that the Iqaluit District Education Authority, according to legislation, has this authority to do that, will they immediately give the green light to go ahead with it?
Yes, I’ll look into the concern that is being raised.
I will be getting more information from my officials and then get back to the member.
Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the minister’s response and I’m sure he can understand the frustration that the District Education Authority here has had.
You know, they assume according to law that they have this authority and have been continually and seemingly road blocked by the department or QSO’s at the Department of Education.
Could the minister also provide me with an explanation as to why that course of action was taken by his officials?
Yes, I would like to inform the member that my officials, after I speak with my officials I will look at that, to find out what the problem is.
So I can get back to the member with that information.
Question 309 – 1(6): Appointment of Elders for Court Circuit
Mr. Speaker, I would like to direct my question to the Minister responsible for Justice.
In the communities during the court circuit in Nunavut they usually involve the elders as part of the advisors.
At the end of the court case the elders usually make their presentations.
The elders who take part in the court circuit when they travel to communities, who appoints the elders?
At this time I don’t know the answer but each community in each region, we have liaison officers.
We use these liaison officers and we get help from the municipalities when they do their appointments.
But at this time I’m unable to answer to his question so therefore I would like to take his question as notice.
Question is taken as notice; let me know for further supplementaries.
Question 310 – 1 (6): Expansion of School in Qikiqtarjuaq
I would like to direct my question to the Minister for Education.
I would like to ask him, in my constituency they have been requesting to expand the school so I would like to ask him when do they plan to expand the school?
During our Capital Estimates, it became evident that it was not included in the 5 year plan.
Although, I could, with the member’s help I could look into the plans with him to find out which area it is at.
Mr. Speaker, our clock is ticking so please hurry up.
In regards to my question, to the Minister of Education, the request to expand the school in Qikiqtarjuaq as he stated that he’s willing to work with me to find out when the plan is.
Would they be able to make plans for 2003/2004 so that it could be advanced to those years?
I must very strongly caution you as to how you address the Chair.
You might find yourself on the outside looking in.
That became clearer, Mr. Speaker.