YELLOWKNIFE (September 27, 2012) -- The Yellowknife Film Festival kicks off tonight, and Minister David Ramsay will be in attendance – in film form – to give his congratulations to Western Arctic Moving Pictures and the NWT Professional Media Association on behalf of the NWT Film Commission. The NWT Film Commission will also be a panel member at the first-ever NWT Filmmaker and Producer Forum, to provide information about the commission and discuss what has been achieved in the past year.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 25, 2012) – Recipients of the Council of the Federation Literacy Award and the Ministerial Literacy Awards were honoured today during the annual Adult Learners’ Luncheon in Yellowknife.

These awards were created by the Council of the Federation in 2005 and the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment in 2002 to recognize adult learners who have overcome learning and literacy challenges or championed literacy to learners of all ages.

The award recipients for 2012:

YELLOWKNIFE (September 25, 2012) -- Northwest Territories Arts Week is from September 22 to 30 and is a celebration of the contribution that the NWT arts and fine crafts community makes to our territory.   “Artisans make significant cultural and economic contributions to communities across the territory and showcase the NWT as a place of artistic excellence,” said Minister of Industry, Tourism and Investment (ITI) David Ramsay.

YELLOWKNIFE (September 24, 2012) – September 23^rd to 29^th is Literacy Week in the Northwest Territories.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment (ECE), the NWT Literacy Council and local communities are sponsoring events and activities across our territory to highlight the importance of literacy to NWT residents. 

YELLOWKNIFE (August 24, 2012) – Premier Bob McLeod has announced Gabriela Eggenhofer as the new Deputy Minister for the Department of Education, Culture and Employment. This appointment will be effective September 10, 2012.

YELLOWKNIFE (July 24, 2012) – The Council of the Federation (CoF), in partnership with the Government of the Northwest Territories, announced Karra Dillon as the NWT recipient of the 2012 Council of the Federation Literacy Award. Presented annually to one individual from each of Canada’s thirteen provinces and territories, the award celebrates outstanding achievement, innovative practice and excellence in literacy.

 YELLOWKNIFE, NT (July 12, 2012) – Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty, will present the first CD copies of drum songs to the Tłįchǫ chiefs at the annual Tłįchǫ Gathering in Wekweètì.   

In 1982, Robert Janes, Director of the Prince of Wales Northern Heritage Centre (PWNHC) in cooperation with the Dene Nation and CBC North, contracted anthropologist Ronald Wright to record Dene music.  This project was to both preserve a sample of traditional Dene music and share the music with the world. 

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I am honoured to be here today to speak at the Expressions of Reconciliation Ceremony.  I stand before you as the minister of the Northwest Territories government department dedicated to educating the young people of the North.

I am aware that there is an historic connection between the department I am responsible for, and many of the events and experiences that are being shared around these circles this week.

YELLOWKNIFE (July 3, 2012) –  Jackson Lafferty, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, offered a gift during the Expressions of Reconciliation ceremony at the recent Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) national gathering in Saskatoon.

The ceremony gives individuals, organizations, and representatives of the parties to the Residential Schools Settlement Agreement the opportunity to make statements, presentations, or apologies directly to survivors. 

YELLOWKNIFE (July 3, 2012) – The groundwork for an NWT anti-poverty strategy and action plan was laid out last week at a roundtable in Hay River. The participants reached consensus on a draft vision and strategic priorities and started discussions on guiding principles and goals and objectives. Participants also agreed on a theme: Poverty-Free NWT.