Michael Nadli

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My last question is directed mostly to the Minister, and an opportunity for her to express, perhaps, in her wise wisdom in terms of any advice that she can offer these students to move the concept of a youth centre into reality. Mahsi.

I'd like to thank the Minister for her commitment in terms of offering this staff member from another community to work with these local budding leaders. Apart from that, what other youth programs might stakeholders explore to access funds or other support for their youth centre vision?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, students in the Northern Community Leadership Program at the Aurora College Community Learning Centre in Fort Providence have taken on an interesting new project.

The Introduction to Leadership course was jointly developed by Aurora College and the NWT Literacy Council, and is being piloted this year in six communities across the territory, including Fort Providence. Students learn how to better engage with their communities, and then build on that knowledge to develop leadership skills and practices. The six-week course helps students to foster leadership...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I, too, wanted to recognize members of the Regional Aboriginal Languages Board, the chairs and plus the language coordinators from the region: Jonas Landry from Fort Providence, and also Violet Jumbo from Fort Simpson. Also, people who I know: Theresa Etchinelle from Tulita, as well as recognizing the Rangers and Mr. Brad Firth for his accomplishment. I understand he just came across Great Slave Lake and he ran that course. I would like to recognize him. Mahsi.

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. In honour of recognizing International Women's Day, I wanted to take a moment in honouring the late Elder, Mary Agnes Bonnetrouge, who is featured in the book Nohecho keh, Our Elders, and these are the words that she shared.

Mary Agnes Bonnetrouge was:

Today, that peace is gone. Our land is torn up and destroyed, because of mining and exploration. The Dene gain nothing. We don't understand, and are left out in the cold.

I was educated at the mission, but as soon as I was old enough, I returned to my parents. My mother was blind, so it was hard for me to learn how to work. I...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I think part of the challenge is to try, from a regional perspective, to maybe funnel those efforts into a community-type delivery, so that communities could, at least, realize some of the benefits that tourism could bring to at least some communities that really need the employment opportunities. My last question is: how can local people in our province explore tourism career opportunities and get further training? Mahsi.

The second question was if, perhaps, the Minister could try and imagine what it is that the community is desiring in terms of trying to tap into the tourism opportunities. What steps would he envision in terms of requiring to upgrade the Telemia camp, to make it a tourism attraction, in terms of, perhaps, the perspective from the Department of ITI?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

Observations and Recommendations on the Action Plan

MACA’s Approach to Development of the Plan

In outlining its approach to developing the action plan, the department noted that “…all MACA staff were provided an opportunity to offer grassroots solutions and approaches to address the issues the OAG has identified,” and that this approach “…underlines the importance of engaging staff who are going to be directly responsible for the implementation of the action plan.”

While the Standing Committee agrees with the importance of engaging with staff to identify innovative...

I appreciate the Minister’s extension in terms of meeting, and having a discussion, in terms of, perhaps, this opportunity. Before we meet, maybe the Minister can inform this side of the House, in terms of whether there is any Aboriginal tourism funding available, to help get the Telemia camp up and running?

Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, my questions are to the Minister for Industry, Tourism and Investment. Before I go there, I just wanted to acknowledge this statement that I read today. It was developed by a student of the Introduction to Northern Leadership program in Fort Providence, as part of the Commit to Learning Centre’s extension of their World College program. This statement was regarding the Telemia camp, which I think most MLAs had an opportunity to visit last summer. The students are seeking the wisdom and guidance of the Minister, so the first question is to the Minister: is the...