SA国际影视传媒

A minister was brought to tears in the legislative assembly on Thursday after an MLA asked her if she had "any genuine intent" to uphold Indigenous rights during her term.

Tu Nedhe-Wiilideh MLA Richard Edjericon was grilling Education, Culture and Employment (ECE) Minister Caitlin Cleveland about the need for an archaeological permit for recovering children who died in a residential school in Fort Resolution.

"Unfortunately, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment is adamant in stepping outside their jurisdiction and demanding that the repatriation of these children requires an application for an archaeological permit," he said, arguing the circumstances of this investigation are outside the 's scope.

The act currently makes no mention of residential schools or human remains.

Edjericon specifically used the example of a five-year-old girl named Alma, who died while attending in Fort Resolution and was buried there, along with other children who died at the school, rather than in her home community. 

Edjericon said Alma's sister vowed to bring her back home to Fort Smith to be laid to rest with their mother.

He added there are serious concerns about the true cause of AlmaSA国际影视传媒檚 death, as the official claim of tuberculosis is being questioned, prompting calls for a proper investigation by the coroner's office.

"ECE does not investigate crimes and the remains of the children are not artifacts," Edjericon said.

Cleveland said the GNWT's current legislation needs to be updated to reflect human remains, especially in regards to residential schools. But Edjericon took issue with her answers and also noted how long that update could take.

He asked Cleveland if she had "any genuine intent to uphold Indigenous rights during her term."

And that's when Cleveland became emotional. 

Through tears, she asked Speaker Shane Thompson to come back to the question later. 

Returning to the question, Edjericon said he is emotional about this situation, noting that he is also a first-generation residential school survivor.

"I tried everything here to figure out a way where we could try to build collaboration, relationship and trust, but I'm not hearing it here today. It saddens me that we can't find a solution. Again, policies of government are overriding over our treaties, our culture and our values," said Edjericon.

Referring to the ministerSA国际影视传媒檚 mandate letter, where Premier R.J. Simpson asked Cleveland to work with Indigenous governments on reconciliation, Edjericon suggested Cleveland should consider resigning.

"Would the ECE Minister resign here today," said Edjericon, before being interrupted by Deputy Premier Caroline Wawzonek, who interjected on a point of order. 

Wawzonek argued that Edjericon had overstepped his bounds and was making inferences about Cleveland's intentions.

"The notion that she's not working with the member or the members of this house is, in my view, not fair. It's a mischaracterization," said Wawzonek.

Edjericon did not directly address the point of order at first, so Thompson called a recess. Edjericon later withdrew his comment, but he also said it is important that Indigenous people be able to call out colonial policies.

"The government is following colonial policies and the minister is responsible for those policies in this house," he said. "It is important that Indigenous people be allowed to call out colonial policies, laws, and actions and attitudes, as part of the ongoing process of reconciliation."

When Cleveland had started crying, Wawzonek looked at her and rolled her eyes. SA国际影视传媒 asked Wawzonek what made her do this, but cabinet's press secretary said there was nothing to add to that.