Norman Yakeleya

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, this morning about 5:00, I was reading a book...

My last comment would be directed to the Minister regarding the seniors in terms of future discussions. I know the seniors have been very active in a lot of the business of the GNWT. I make reference to the elders in the Sahtu region and the seniors in terms of their relationship to this government. Has this Minister, in terms of meeting with the seniors as her duties as the Minister responsible for seniors, had some discussions with the seniors?

Seniors can be elevated almost to another level of authority such as a secretariat for the seniors. Right now they’re an advisory council. There is...

Mr. Chair, the telehealth coordinators were funded by the authority agencies. I was just doing some checking and I know my regional health centres, all the communities have telehealth technology. In terms of the coordinators and operations of telehealth, it would greatly be appreciated that at these four health centres and health station, Colville Lake, that if this telehealth would be used for the people. Is this something that the coordinators are going to work on? I am not too sure of their job descriptions in terms of ensuring that...if I’m right. I do apologize. They talked about...

Under the directive on 8-12, it talks about facility planning and you also made reference to another section I could look at is the elders facility, I guess. I’m asking the Minister in terms of planning for a facility in our region, so you know this region here, the Sahtu is the only region that doesn’t have any type of regional facility like a wellness centre or emergency centre or even an elders centre for the region. So that’s the focus that I am looking at in terms of this department looking at planning for facilities. I know there is a need for other facilities to be upgraded as I heard...

Thank you for that information, Madam Minister. Mr. Chair, the TeleSpeech implementation, I look forward to the rollout of the implementation when you’re saying that the Sahtu communities are on the list as possibly one of the first projects that are going to be used. So I look forward to that. I do thank the Minister for that information.

Would this be similar to our experience with the telehealth? It’s not being used today and that’s a shame that this is not being used to its full utilization because that would sure help a lot of people. Now, I could be corrected on this here, however, this...

Thank you. Under the infrastructure investment, the item information technology projects, $2.4 million, Mr. Chair, can I just ask for a brief explanation in terms of that line item?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Last summer when we completed the hike on the CANOL Trail, the last 50 miles, the first thing that we did was we went to see the elders and talk about the last 50 miles of the CANOL. The elders talked about the trail and what we should be looking for, because the elders have travelled on that land, similar to what the caribou have travelled. Our elders have travelled all over the land on this vast tract of land. I want to know from the Minister about the involvement and input of elders when they say things about the caribou. It seems that we give more weight to the...

The Minister has indicated the number of successful points in terms of him getting feedback from the aboriginal governments and leaders, and probably through the elders. I want to ask the Minister in terms of this specific issue of the caribou with respect to what the elders specifically said to him about the issue of the caribou in terms of the survival to the aboriginal people. What has the Minister heard from the elders down the Mackenzie Valley regarding the caribou and how to deal or live with the caribou?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, when I was in Fort Good Hope I sat down with an elder named Jim Pierrot. Jim Pierrot and I sat there and had some tea and Jim Pierrot said to me while talking with me over a cup of tea for about two and a half hours, and one statement he said to me, “Our land is holy.” I couldn’t get what he meant when he said “our land is holy.” I’ve been thinking about it for awhile, Mr. Speaker. Our elders tell us these certain phases for us to figure it out and to work on. One of the things that as young people when you go see the elders, as our parents tell us, is that...

I look forward to the Minister reopening this file here and looking at the issues. I hope the Minister will be able to inform me as of her plans, so I can work with her in the community of Colville Lake to look at this important issue. It’s very important for the people of Colville Lake to have home care work done by their own people. They have been looking after the elders for a long time, so I hope some of the training requirements won’t get in the way of, naturally...could look after their own people.

The other thing I would ask the Minister is if she would look at a community health nurse...