Thank you, Mr. Speaker. This spring I’ve had the opportunity to go on the land with my family. I brought my little boy out there. He’s 12 years old. Being out on the land for 11 days, I truly believe that the land is alive and well, and the land is the boss. The land has certain laws that when we’re in a certain type of environment that we really don’t understand. I know that when I was with my son, we were talking about walking with his grandparents on the land. His grandparents from my side of the family are not alive anymore, but they have put a place where we can go and fish, hunt and trap and enjoy a good life.
All over the Sahtu, there was excitement that people were going out on the land. Close to 300 or 400 people went out and they used the modern technology of a helicopter for the business they have with the helicopter companies. A lot of them took advantage of that. Historically, there are a lot of trails in the Northwest Territories and in the Sahtu region. Even in our land claim, Chapter 12, it states we are going to strengthen the traditional way of life and the people.
I want to continue that and support the traditional use of our lands. It’s stated clearly in our land claims and our hearts that that is given by our elders. Our Sahtu Land Use Plan states that, traditional knowledge states that. Spring hunts are exciting times. Ninety-four percent of people in Colville Lake use traditional foods and the other areas, about 7 percent. We have a high number of harvesters in our area, 112 trappers and 60 percent so far that we’ve identified have cabins in the Sahtu area. Over 400 sites have been identified. Take a Kid Trapping is powerful.
This summer we are going to hike the Canol Trail. So far there have been 87 hikers on that trail in the past eight years.
I seek unanimous consent to conclude my statement.
---Unanimous consent granted
I want to thank Members and colleagues and say, in my grandmother’s words, when I asked her about her husband, Chief Albert Wright, about the future, Chief Albert Wright said, “Go onto the land. In the future it’s going to be very valuable.” That’s where I take my inspiration when I hike – in the past years there have been 87 hikers on the Canol – is to go on the land, live on the land. You know what? If we continue to go on the land and teach our children the value that anything in life that you want, you need to practice it first. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
