Norman Yakeleya

In the Sahtu they are really excited and they hope they will hear the news tonight.

What are the next steps should the vote be a successful vote?

Many years ago great leaders in Deline knew of this time and now we are watching as it unfolds right in front of our eyes today. A nation is ready to be born. Through our land claims we negotiated the first step. The second step of our land claims chapter was to negotiate our own government. Bring it home.

Self-government is all about honouring our ancestors and their words. Today, people in Deline, make your mark.

Thank you, Madam Chair. As Mr. Menicoche indicated, we had a pretty lively debate the last time we talked about this, and I still consistently state my position that here we’re having the recommendations looking at the forced marriages. Nobody wants to get married in this forced marriage, you know, Weledeh and Tu Nedhe. You put them together. They don’t want to be together. This is what we’re looking at, and I’ve always said that we’re talking about something very special and unique in the Northwest Territories. We’re talking about a culture and a nation of people that’s very special. If it...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. For the past eight years and hopefully this summer, in July, people will tell us to take a hike, and I say I’m glad to. I hike along the Canol Heritage Trail. I hike with the young people. We’ve been doing it for the last eight years. Why take the hike? Why go with them? I look at this and I say, well, what’s the experience? From this experience, what will help the youth today? We go out to the Canol Trail, someplace, maybe at Mile 15, maybe at Mile 70, maybe at Mile 222, but we take one of these locations and we go out with the youth and we give them the opportunity...

I just wanted to let the Minister know that, as Ms. Bisaro said, this is a really huge, complex information act and, like I’ve said to the Minister sometimes, it’s communication, communication, communication in our languages in our small communities and make sure that people like grannie from Nahanni can understand. When they walk into the health centre that they know that they’re not just still going there for aspirins but they’re also going to be bringing other information for them that she needs to know what it’s all about. The legislation is not coming into effect for a while, but that...

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I have a few things to say. First of all, it’s quite the achievement to have the governments working. We’ve come a long way from the ’60 and the ‘70s to where we are today through the many forms of consultation with the parties on this bill Even in the ‘70s this would never be heard of, even the ‘80s, until recently. I think this is a good thing, a new partnership in our governments. Through the years of people who worked towards this type of vision of working with governments, we’re still, from our small communities, looking for bigger, giant steps and, hopefully, that...

Mr. Speaker, on part of the hike, we have rules of conduct when hiking out on the trail. One of the things we thought would be good as part of the recommendations would be to put up some signs at mile 25 on Carcajou River or Twitya or Little Keele to let people know to respect the trail. They are entering into Sahtu Dene/Metis lands and to respect the Canol Heritage Trail. That’s part of the rules of conduct we have amongst our young hikers. Don’t throw garbage on the ground, take what you need to take out of there, be respectful of the area.

Is that something the Minister could look at? Maybe...

For the last 10 years, I’ve been getting tips, reports, as to the transfer of the Canol Heritage Trail, the sites and reports from the federal government. Our government has been hesitant and reluctant to take over full ownership until all the i’s are dotted and t’s are crossed on this issue. With regard to the park they built, there are some areas that are not contaminated. Some areas are pretty well as natural as can be since the creation of this world.

Are there things in the plan that would help the young people as to what we can do to improve the safety of the hiking trail for other hikers...

Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize Mrs. Patricia Modeste from Deline, who was chosen for the 2014 Wise Woman Award for the Sahtu.

Mrs. Modest is known for her kind heart and dedication towards helping our community. She is a well-known lady who likes to laugh and get things done when needed. She deserves this award, as do the other recipients.

On behalf of the Sahtu region, I congratulate Patricia and her family in Deline and to keep up the great work you’re doing for your community and people and remember to rest too. Mahsi cho.

---Applause

Thank you. That’s good news for us and I appreciate that. Certainly, I know that will be welcome news to people in the communities who are negotiating their own form of government. It’s a big thing and that’s good for this type of provision. Again, I wanted just to say congratulations and nothing is easy that’s really good for us. Negotiations of putting this type or form of government partnership together enacted into legislation, we never think this would happen. We’re moving forward and we’re moving in a way that is new. It’s new for us. I just wanted to make that comment. That’s all I have...