Norman Yakeleya

Mr. Speaker, I would like to table a document addressed to the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian and Northern Affairs, House of Commons, from the Dene Nation.

Mr. Speaker, the Minister is correct that the Olympics are going to start soon. I was very surprised that this… I am very happy that we could have this opportunity to promote the birthplace of ice hockey in Deline down at the Olympics. I want to again ask the Minister in terms of putting some small display in terms of shirts and maybe even, I don’t know if it is too late to invite some of the original hockey players, if that is possible. Invite some of the descendents of the hockey players from Deline in terms of promoting this historical event that happened in Canada. Would the Minister have...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I want to ask several Ministers, but I think I am going to zero in on the Minister of ITI on this question here. Mr. Speaker, I think the ministerial statement here on diamonds and tourism in Canada’s Northern House statement, I want to ask the Minister in terms of the promotion of Canada’s North, the golden opportunity in the Olympics, if the Minister had any type of discussion in terms of promoting one of our best kept secrets being the birthplace of ice hockey in Canada in Deline. Even this House passed a motion. I really find it odd that this government here hasn’t...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The comments I have are just more in the sense of general comments to the Minister. Certainly, there will be further discussion once we get to the details of it.

I want to just let the Minister know that in our region there’s a big need to look at our education system and we’ve certainly had some discussions with the Minister regarding how we look at our education system in the Sahtu. The issue of high school students graduating with quality high school credits and there is a difference of opinion on this subject. However, the matter is we have high school students in our...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Would the Minister then look at the possibility of working with the community of Deline in terms of possibly looking at something that could be, they can add into the design or to the celebration at the place in Vancouver in terms of celebrating the birthplace of ice hockey in that community so the community can also celebrate with this government here?

I certainly look forward to the invitation from the Minister to go down to the Olympics. I will certainly do the invitation with the Minister in terms of promoting the birthplace of ice hockey in Canada at the Olympics. I want to note the Minister then would work with me in terms of when we have this promotion in Vancouver to display one of the most hidden secrets of the Northwest Territories or in Canada in terms of promoting hockey in the North. Would the Minister then work with me in terms of how we coordinate an event that would showcase the world that the birthplace of ice hockey in...

Mr. Speaker, I raise this issue due to the number of people I’ve been talking to in my region around this area here in terms of the importance of aboriginal people having access to their food such as caribou.

Mr. Speaker, I’ve talked to many people who know why it’s very important for us to have this food for our survival. People have said that we’ve been surviving for thousands and thousands of years. Mr. Speaker, actually, I read in a book called “The Alpine Hunters.” There was an ice patch study done in the Mackenzie Mountains that showed evidence from our elders and from scientific data...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, based on the government’s list in terms of consultation, he listed off a bunch of meetings. Mr. Speaker, the Minister has certainly done a lot of meetings. He’s shown me a very impressive list in terms of meetings. However, I believe that, Mr. Speaker, this will not stand up in the Supreme Court of Canada in terms of meaningful consultation. There is one process of doing meaningful consultation. The others tell him this is what we’re going to do and leave it at that. So, again, I ask the Minister in terms of building a relationship with the aboriginal...

Again I would ask the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs, in regard to the Dene Nation leadership motion that was passed, did the Minister act on this motion as the leadership wanted some work to be done in regard to the caribou?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, with millions of dollars this government couldn’t get right in terms of consultation with the aboriginal governments and the affected caribou hunters in this specific area. I ask the Minister, in terms of his consultation with even, for example, the YK Dene, they haven’t even come close to a deal. Can the Minister indicate to me if this deal is close to a resolution with this issue with the YK Dene?