Proceedings of the Standing Senate Committee on
Aboriginal Peoples

Issue 51 - Minutes of Proceedings - April 2, 2019

OTTAWA, Tuesday, April 2, 2019
(112)

[English]

The Standing Senate Committee on Aboriginal Peoples met this day at 8:04 a.m., in room C128, Senate of Canada Building, the chair, the Honourable Lillian Eva Dyck, presiding.

Members of the committee present: The Honourable Senators Christmas, Coyle, Doyle, Dyck, Francis, LaBoucane- Benson, McCallum, McPhedran, Ngo, Pate, Patterson and Tannas (12).

Other senator present: The Honourable Senator Sinclair (1).

In attendance: Brittany Collier and Marlisa Tiedemann, Analysts, Parliamentary Information and Research Services, Library of Parliament.

Also present: The official reporters of the Senate.

Pursuant to the order of reference adopted by the Senate on Thursday, February 28, 2019, the committee continued its examination of the subject matter of Bill C-91, An Act respecting Indigenous languages. (For complete text of the order of reference, see proceedings of the committee, Issue No 50.)

WITNESSES:

Avataq Cultural Institute:

Josepi Padlayat, President;

Zebedee Nungak, Specialist, Language file.

Nunavut Arctic College:

Rebecca Mearns, Dean of Education, Inuit and University Studies.

Government of Nunavut:

The Honourable David Joanasie, Minister of Languages, Minister of Culture and Heritage and Minister of Education;

Susan Enuaraq, Senior Advisor, Inuktut.

Nunavut Tunngavik Incorporated:

Aluki Kotierk, President.

As an individual:

Ian Martin, Professor, Glendon College, York University.

Canadian Indigenous Languages and Literacy Development Institute:

Jordan Lachler, Director.

Six Nations of the Grand River:

Karen Sandy, Director.

Kontinónhstats - The Mohawk Language Custodian Association from Kanehsatà:ke:

Ellen Gabriel, Representative.

The chair made a statement.

It was agreed that photography and filming by Senate Communications be authorized during this meeting.

It was agreed that the committee be permitted to distribute documents that are in English only during today's meeting, with translation to follow.

Ms. Mearns made a statement and answered questions.

At 8:37 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 8:45 a.m., the committee resumed.

Minister Joanasie, Ms. Kotierk and Mr. Martin each made a statement and answered questions.

At 9:48 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 9:51 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Nungak made a statement and answered questions.

At 10:22 a.m., the committee suspended.

At 10:25 a.m., the committee resumed.

Mr. Lachler, Ms. Sandy and Ms. Gabriel each made a statement and answered questions.

At 11:09 a.m., the committee adjourned to the call of the chair.

ATTEST:

Mireille K. Aubé
Clerk of the Committee