Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the Department of Renewable Resources' mandate involves working closely with those pursuing traditional aboriginal lifestyles. Our field officers in smaller communities

work with local harvesters to responsibly manage our resources.

I would like to inform the Members of an innovative approach recently undertaken by Renewable Resources to facilitate contact between community harvesters and senior management staff. A snow machine trip from Yellowknife to Coppermine and return was undertaken during the sessional break. On March 15th, the deputy minister of Renewable Resources, Mr. Joe Handley, and four others left Yellowknife by snow machine and travelled to Deline, then across Great Bear Lake to Hornby Bay and to Coppermine.

They then travelled back to Yellowknife via Contwoyto Lake through Lac de Gras area, reaching Yellowknife on March 27th. They were accompanied and guided along the way by many people from the various communities to which they travelled.

This trip proved an excellent way to meet people who live in smaller communities, and especially those who depend on the land for their livelihood. These people now know our senior departmental staff understand at least a small amount about what it's like to be out on the land.

Grand Chief Joe Rabesca and the other Dogrib chiefs met with the group in Rae Lakes, checked their equipment and clothing, went over the travel plans and arranged a guide for them to Deline. Moise Rabesca provided accommodation for a night at his outfitting camp headquarters at Rae and loaned some equipment he felt they should have. Walter Bahya and his family travelled from Deline to Hornby Bay, guiding the group across that huge lake and over dangerous pressure ridges. Walter is quite proud that his wife is the first Dene woman to have travelled to the Hornby Bay area, probably since the turn of the century, at least. Colin Adjun, Stanley Klengenberg and Josh Hunter guided the group from Hornby Bay to Coppermine. Bobby Algona, a Coppermine hunter and trapper born and raised in the Contwoyto Lake area ensured the group was able to make the trip from Coppermine to Contwoyto Lake.

Mr. Speaker, this trip provided an opportunity to meet with outfitters like Moise Rabesca and Gary Jaeb, with the Dogrib chiefs, with HTA members and generally with people from the communities. The meetings were informal and relaxed, which is the way we do much of our business in smaller communities.

It was unfortunate that my schedule prevented me from participating in this trip. I know the people in the communities were pleasantly surprised to see a deputy minister travelling by snowmobile over such long distances. This trip allowed staff to visit remote locations; to demonstrate their understanding of travel on the land; and, was completed at less cost than if the staff had simply flown directly to Coppermine without managing to visit the camps in between.

This innovative approach to fostering better relations between the department and communities was an overall success. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause