High school students take over legislature
Education, housing, enhanced youth programming and infrastructure top needs
Michele LeTourneau
Northern News Services
Monday, November 28, 2016
NUNAVUT
High school students from across the territory travelled to Iqaluit last week to participate in the 6th Speaker's Youth Parliament.
High school students from across the territory participate in the 6th Speaker's Youth Parliament and experience a sitting either as ministers or regular members Nov. 24. The students spent the week learning about Nunavut's democratic institutions. - Michele LeTourneau/NNSL photo |
"Participating in Youth Parliament provides students with the opportunity to learn about our territory's democratic institutions and experience the role of an elected member of the Legislative Assembly," stated Speaker George Qulaut in a news release.
On Nov. 24, the youth filed into the chamber, after regular MLAs and ministers fulfilled their duties as pages, preparing the students' seats and filling their glasses with water.
Nunavut Commissioner Nellie Kusugak welcomed the youth, who throughout the sitting spoke in both Inuktitut and English. Also worth noting: the female gender was represented by greater numbers than the elected officials the youth were temporarily replacing.
Each youth spoke eloquently about their concerns.
Economic Development and Tourism Minister Monica Ell-Kanayuk's stand-in Kelly Ineak, representing Iqaluit-Manirajak, announced funding for a new performing arts centre in the capital, while Education Minister Paul Quassa's stand-in Qumangaapik Arnatsiaq, representing Aggu, spoke of a new program enabling youth to spend at least two days a week out on the land learning traditional skills and Inuktitut with elders.
Community and Government Services Minister Joe Savikataaq's stand-in Elena Akammak-Nipisar, representing Arviat South, spoke of
successfully negotiating a funding arrangement that would see Nunavut's housing crisis finally reach an end - with housing for everyone.
"The housing problem will be solved," said Akammak-Nipisar.
Clyde River needs a new school, said young Uqqummiut MLA Tasha Tigullaraq, and Pond Inlet needs a new airport, said young Tununiq MLA Jonathan Pitseolak.
And so it went, as each youth spoke of the needs of their communities and the territory as a whole. Other concerns included the need for youth centres, the need for youth programming to resolve the suicide crisis, the need for ramping up the education system so that students graduate, as well as leave school fluent in Inuktitut.
Diminishing tobacco and alcohol use, as well as finding ways to lower youth crime and helping impoverished families, all had an airing.
During the second half of the sitting, the students had the opportunity to hear from and question Nunavut's Representative for Children and Youth Sherry McNeil-Mulak.
Each student who was selected to represent Nunavut's 22 constituencies submitted applications to participate in the youth parliament through their respective schools.
The afternoon was televised throughout the territory.
