(Translation) I will be speaking in Inuktitut as well. Yesterday, on the national television news, I was shocked to see the slaughter of seals, and how they slaughtered the seals for the skins. Let me go back to the history of my ancestors. They had to hunt to survive and use the skins for clothing. They never skinned a live seal, even if they were really hungry. From our ancestors and elders we have been taught when we injure an animal, we have to do our best to kill the animal so that it does not suffer because they respected what the seal could give them and because the seal was their main diet. Today, the seal is still an important part of our diet. Mr. Speaker, I do not know of any hunter who would skin a live seal. Our main purpose to hunt seals now is for the food. We do not only hunt for the skins. Mr. Speaker, there are very few jobs in my constituency. Some hunters could hunt just for skins, but they do not do this. They know how many seals their families can eat and even though they could make more money from the skins, they just kill enough for their families. Often they give to the elders of the communities and people with dog teams. If they do kill too many seals to eat, they ... (Translation ends)
Levi Barnabas on Traditional Seal Hunt
In the Legislative Assembly on February 11th, 1997. See this statement in context.
Traditional Seal Hunt
Item 3: Members' Statements
February 10th, 1997
Page 523
Levi Barnabas High Arctic
See context to find out what was said next.