Jane Weyallon Armstrong

Mr. Speaker, the reason why I ask is that anyone who lived and spends time in small communities, they would understand what we're talking about because Indigenous people, they have close connection to the land. You know, we it provides and sustain us. And even you, you understand that. Now we use the land for healing. That is the reason why I ask that question, is because we have close connection to the land.

But anyways, Mr. Speaker, the GNWT says it will take seven years for burned land to naturally replenish itself. Does that mean it will take seven years for any lost wildlife to also...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, we all know this has been the worst forest fire season in the NWT history. This is the first time in history that twothirds of NWT residents were forced to leave their homes. These tragic events displaced nearly 30,000 people for weeks and resulted in the loss of millions of hectares of land burned. In Tlicho region, four houses and 15 traditional cabins burned, as well devastating loss of traditional food from both vegetation and wildlife. The damage done to our lands will take decades to repair.

Mr. Speaker, this fire season has seen two Tlicho communities...

Thank you, Madam Chair. Yes, we have to think about 30 years ago, you know, like, prior to prior to 1994, there wasn't too many jobs. Maybe there was a lot of jobs in Delta but in Tlicho region, we didn't have a lot of jobs until the mining company came. That's where right now we have a lot of our people that are employed, or since the mine opened, we have a lot of our people are working there. They have employed. And currently, there's a lot of young people working, and I know there's a lot of people that retire, and it really did help a lot of our members. Not just from my community, from...

Mr. Speaker, thank you. Since 2009, we have caribou restriction in place and our people need to know because we do rely on caribou. That's why I'm asking. And this is where they failed to work closely with the traditional knowledge. We do need those people. ECC needs to have to be working with the Indigenous government and traditional knowledge keeper so that they can be informed of what is happening with our caribou, and we do rely on that. So that's why I asked.

And, Mr. Speaker, okay, this is another question that I don't mean to be disrespectful in a time like this, okay. And I know it's...

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Minister Thompson, this is for the ECC department.

Minister Thompson, has the department, ECC, ever considered the impact the existing fire management policy is going to have on our Indigenous language, culture, and way of life? Did the ECC I mean, I'm just saying, what I'm trying to say here is that has the department considered the impact the existing fire management policy is having on Indigenous language, culture, and way of life?

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, pursuant to Rule 8.2(2), I seek consent to proceed with second reading of Bill 98, An Act to Amend the Emergency Management Act, at this time. Thank you.

Thank you, colleagues. Mr. Speaker, I present to the House Bill 98, An Act to Amend the Emergency Management Act for the first reading.

Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I provide notice that on Wednesday, August 30th, 2023, I will move, seconded by the Member for Great Slave, Katrina Nokleby, that Bill 98, An Act to Amend the Emergency Management Act, be read for the first time.

Okay, thank you. Mr. Speaker, I move to set aside the ordinary business of the House to discuss calling upon the GNWT to ensure that Indigenous governments are involved in the GNWT's response to end the current wildfire management wildfire emergency. I think it's you now; do I continue, or?

Yes, thank you. Yeah, no. Well, it's good that, you know, I'm sure that she's going to share the information with us once the information is available for the evacuations. So I don't have any more question. Thank you.