SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Premier Floyd Roland was in Manitoba with the nation's premiers Aug. 4-6 for the Council of the Federation's summer meeting.

The council meets annually to discuss issues of importance to Canadians, and to maintain good relationships within the federation.

On the first day of the meetings, the premiers met with aboriginal leaders to discuss how the lives of aboriginal people could be improved.

Roland said the main issues that came out of the discussion included violence against women as well as education.

At a press conference, NWT's premier praised the territory's educational system.

"(There are) a number of areas where, if not leading, we are advanced in our working relationship when it comes to the curriculum of aboriginal peoples in the NWT," he said. "Of course, there's examples where we need to continue to do more."

Literacy and attendance are the most important issues facing the Behchoko District Education Authority, said James Robinson, the authority's director of education. "Those are our two main targets, really, getting kids to school and making sure they can read and write very well. It's the most fundamental thing that we're doing," he said.

Discussions among the premiers spanned topics from health care to international trade. Health care discussions included the training of health care professionals, as well as lowering the cost of prescription drugs.

Roland said he brought up the NWT's proposed changes to supplementary health benefits - items such as prescription, glasses and dental costs - as a means of helping residents without coverage deal with the rising cost of health care.

The group also discussed international trade, especially with the European Union.

"The fact that the NWT is now the fifth largest exporter into the EU (European Union) through our diamonds is one of the reasons why I felt it was necessary to become part of the working group and ... have a little more discussion on those items ... we feel need to be addressed as we move forward," the premier said.

Speaking for the territory's businesses, NWT Chamber of Commerce vice-president Chuck Parker said he is happy to see the premier is working to make more international relationships for the territory. Parker said there is even more potential for increasing international trade, by improving territorial infrastructure, for example.

"I think we'd certainly improve our competitiveness in the international market by bringing costs in line with other competitors," he said.

Roland also stressed the importance of private investment in the territory as a means of maintaining sovereignty.

"What we've been trying to push as a government of the NWT is more of a can-do attitude and with the right investments," he said, adding large-scale projects in the territory offer a return on investment to the federal government and to a number of provinces.

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