Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Fall time is a time for traditions, preparing for winter by stocking up on moose meat, berries, fish for the long winter ahead. The Ka'a'gee Tu First Nations have been taking their people out on the land to the area of Tathlina Lake. Recently, three young men, Chaal Simba, Takek Chicot, and Dawson Landry, shot their first moose. The young hunters travelled with their relatives and uncles. They were honoured in the recent opening of the community hall in Kakisa. Meat from the moose they harvested was on the menu during the feast.
Mr. Speaker, this ageold story highlights how important traditional lifestyles remain to this day. Our culture, traditions are vital to our identity. As government, we must do all we can to encourage the traditional economy by being good stewards of the land, first of all, and offering supports to people who want to make harvesting integral to their lives.
Mr. Speaker, the Ka'a'gee Tu protected area in these hunters' region is being advanced through their former protected area strategy process to create a permanent level of protection for that area. I encourage the GNWT to work towards the full implementation of the conservation areas network which will replace the protected area strategy. I encourage other regions with candidate areas to work proactively to protect habitat in their areas. Mr. Speaker, the NWT has some of the last great wilderness left on earth and the survival of one species is essential to others. Government and industry must seriously consider traditional knowledge and critical wildlife habitat thresholds when writing and reviewing project proposals. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT supports wise and responsible traditional land use through programs like the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program, Take Your Kid Trapping, and has worked with Aboriginal governments to develop wildlife management plans for caribou and those bison that like to trample through our communities. It is also preparing to roll out hunter education courses under the new Wildlife Act.
This government needs to ensure that work with Aboriginal counterparts lays the groundwork for future cooperation and positive relationships in communities and on the land where these matter the most. Mr. Speaker, the three young men I spoke of earlier will always remember their first moose. One day, they will want to share this experience with their nephews and sons. The decisions we make today will determine whether they share it as a memory or as they did themselves, at a feast to mark a special day. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
Masi. Members' statements. Member for Kam Lake.
