Thank you, Mr. Speaker. In the entertainment world we have the Oscars; in the music business we have the Grammys; in the world of trapping we have the NWT Trappers Achievement Award. This award recognizes a way of life for our trappers and their supporting casts. Throughout the North, each season our trappers live off the land, teach their children a way of life, educate them about life on the trapline and get the young ones to use their minds, the most powerful tool in life.
This award recognizes the trappers’ business sense. It recognizes the economics of doing business. This award recognizes what it means to be self-reliant, to be able to rely on one’s own ability to live and support their families. This award recognizes trapping as a healthy lifestyle and we must have a school of trapping in the North.
I want to recognize the following trappers in the Northwest Territories and the Sahtu. May your traps always be full. I want to recognize: an elder from Fort Good Hope, George Voudrach; a trapper from Colville Lake, Robert Kochon; and I want to recognize a trapper in Colville Lake who is a youth trapper receiving this award, Jarrett Lafferty. I want to say wholeheartedly mahsi cho for all the trappers and the people in the Northwest Territories and the families for keeping our culture and tradition alive.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The honourable Member for Nahendeh, Mr. Menicoche.
