Indigenous and Northern Affairs Committee on Sept. 23rd, 2016

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you very much for that.

[David Joanasie, As an Individual]

[Witness speaks in Inuktitut].

My name is David Tuanasie.

[Witness speaks in Inuktitut].

I'm the MLA for South Baffin, representing Cape Dorset and Kimmirut here in Nunavut.

Welcome, Mr. Chairman and committee members.

Since time is of the essence, I'm going to focus on a few things that I hope will help you in your recommendations.

I should say something when the territory has a minister responsible for Nunavut suicide prevention. Our territory set aside $4.5 million just to address the issue of suicide.

I also want to say kudos to you. I see you've invited some youth to attend this special committee appearance. In speaking with the youth in my communities, I know they want to have a voice. I try to help them. I want to be a voice for them. They have their own voice, of course. They can be loud. I have four children of my own who are loud.

The other thing I wanted to say is that I'm calling for Canada, as a nation, to have a national suicide prevention strategy. Of course Inuit Tapiriit Kanatami has come out with their own strategy specifically for Inuit. If there's a national strategy, we can get the proper support and a cohesive approach from the federal level down to the local level.

There has to be a multi-pronged approach in addressing this issue. The $4.5 million that the territorial government set aside is doing just that. I have to commend the government for coming out and declaring suicide a crisis in Nunavut. They've assigned the associate deputy minister, who I think has taken on this issue.

It's a big task to take on. The people who are in these positions dealing with suicide on the ground, the front-line workers, need the most support, I'd say.

I also want to say it's unfortunate, as you might have heard, that one of the communities I represent, in Cape Dorset, lost a school last year to a fire. Just recently, in the last week, there was another attempted arson at the only other school in town. These are some of the things we're dealing with on a day-to-day basis, but we have to look at what's underneath the surface of these issues.

Suicide is another thing. I've been told more than once that if we talk about it, it means more people are going to commit suicide. I wholeheartedly disagree with that. I think we need to talk about it and be able to be comfortable in addressing it, as individuals but also as a collective.

I'm glad that you're able to come here and hear from us directly. I hope it means that for those at risk, you can provide some opportunities and some options and help them develop a healthy mind.

Essentially, that's what I wanted to say.

[Witness speaks in Inuktitut] Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you, David. It's our privilege to be here, and thanks for your comments and warm welcome.

[Brian Tagalik, As an Individual]

Hi. If you could put on your headsets, I'll be speaking Inuktitut here. We didn't have a translator last night.

[Witness speaks in Inuktitut]

Like a general in the middle of a war, I often find myself looking out the window, wondering how I can minimize the casualties of my people. Can you guys not have armed me for this war? These talks and the national outcry from Attawapiskat a few months ago arm us. The money you are delivering to the front-line soldiers such as me arm us to be able to send in infantry and mobilize the communities, and I commend you so much for giving me this opportunity to speak to you, but I would also like to see our words and our voices echoed in our Canadian Parliament Buildings.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you very much, Brian.

Would anyone else like to make a remark?

[Emiliano Qirngnuq, As an Individual]

[Witness speaks in Inuktitut]

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you very much. Is there anyone else?

[Caroline Anawak]

I'm sorry to be up again, but I didn't get to finish.

We don't have a long way to look for how to get resources and get the infrastructure and the immediate action going. The Canadian Association for Suicide Prevention, CASP for short, did a blueprint for a suicide prevention strategy several years ago. I know; I was part of it, but there were many other people.

That particular strategy still exists, and you could look it up. It's called the CASP blueprint. The fact that ITK has come out with their own suicide prevention strategy means you have a couple of things you could look at right away. It isn't like having to start from scratch.

The other thing is that attending several international conferences really opened my eyes to the work that is going on in many countries in the world that all have suicide prevention strategies. Even little Slovenia has one, and we don't. I know the Honourable Bob Rae did his best within the House. I know there have been many speakers on this subject, but with what's going on, we can't afford to not have a strategy. ITK's looks excellent; the CASP blueprint is excellent. I would really encourage you to take a look at both of them, because a great deal of work has been done by the front lines.

Thank you.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you very much.

Is that another hand? Okay. I think this will be our last remark for this afternoon.

[Maatalii Okalik]

Qujannamiik.

I would be remiss if I didn't make a correction to the answer that I provided to the honourable member from Scarborough following the testimony that I made earlier today.

When asked what current programs are working well in our communities, I made a mistake in my response, but in the interest of time and understanding that there's limited opportunity to list all of the amazing work that's being done on the front lines among our regions and in our communities, I'd be very happy to work with the council members of the National Inuit Council to provide a list for your reference in terms of suicide prevention activities and work being done across Inuit nunaat. Again, I put in that encouragement to your recommendation with respect to Truth and Reconciliation call to action number 66, which I had the opportunity to speak more to. On the record I'd like to make that correction.

I pay tribute to all of those individuals—the youth, as well as attendees today—for opening up and sharing their personal stories and perspectives. It is very difficult to do, so I commend each of you.

I did hear a lot about health. Keeping in mind that the health accord is being re-evaluated, one thing not to forget are the transfer payments to our provinces and territories where Inuit reside—in some situations, the majority of the population—and how health is included in that as well.

My apologies for the incorrect information in my quick remarks. I'd be happy to again follow up to the standing committee with the correct information.

Qujannamiik.

[The Chair, Liberal, Andy Fillmore]

Thank you for that offer of the full list, Maatalii. We'll take you up on that. Thank you very much.

Thank you to everybody who offered remarks today and to people who sat with us all day long and heard all the testimony starting at 8:30 this morning.

We've had an absolutely wonderful experience in your beautiful community since yesterday and we thank you very much. We're very grateful. You'll hear from us again.

This meeting is adjourned.