Thank you, Madam Chair. Could the Minister indicate how this consultant is gathering his information. Where is he gathering it from? What region, the Beaufort region, Nunavut region, or Sahtu region? Where is this consultant gathering this information from, what group of people?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Kakfwi.

Madam Chair, the consultant has been engaged in this area for some years already. He has regular contact with all the different parties actively engaged in the whole issue of traditional knowledge. For instance, there was some contact meeting with the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation in early January. There was some exchange of information at that level. There has been frequent information sharing exchanges with the Dene Cultural Institute, with the University of Alaska, with the University of Manitoba and other academics across this country who are debating and working to define the way in which the academic community should view and relate to traditional knowledge. There are different activities going on. For instance, there was an elders' workshop in Rae Edzo over the weekend. The consultant was involved with that exercise. I have invited the consultant to attend the Protected Areas Strategy Conference in Inuvik next week to offer some insight into how that whole exercise could be seen if the elders of the Inuvialuit, the Inuit, the Dene and Metis had undertaken such a project themselves. We are looking to receive some advice from the consultant on whether or not the way we are organized is conducive to better use and recognition of traditional knowledge as a government. Whether or not the way we make decisions could be enhanced through recognition of traditional knowledge. Eventually, we hope there is some advice given on how we can enhance operations of government in all sectors. One place could be here in this very House and the way we relate to one another. The rules we operate under are totally void of any recognition of traditional knowledge, the habits, the values, and the traditions of the first peoples of this country. Do we want to have it reflected in here? At some time or other someone can make some suggestions about how it could be done if that political decision is made. Until then, we will continue to operate under the good rules of Robert. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. Mr. Steen.

Madam Chair, is the department hoping to end up with a document which would be called traditional knowledge that the public would have access to?

Thank you, Mr. Steen. Mr. Kakfwi.

Madam Chair, I am not certain if publishing something would make people feel more like they have to engage users and holders of traditional knowledge. If a publication would help do that, I would be very happy to publish something, but if all it is going to do is have the skeptics jump on this publication and chew it up without engaging in a discussion with the aboriginal peoples, then it is not really productive. The intent is to try to find some way to see how we can better respect the traditional knowledge, how we can help it find more acceptance and understanding amongst the public, including ourselves and our staff, how to set up a system providing for the future. If there are some specific suggestions, then I would not discard the idea of a publication, but it would have to be in that context. It would have to be conducive to a positive development of people's attitudes and understanding. If it is, then I would be quite prepared to look at a publication.

Thank you, Mr. Kakfwi. That concludes Mr. Steen's questions and I would like to take a 15 minute break.

-- Break

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Mr. Chairman, the Minister has indicated if it would help people be more supportive of traditional knowledge as a policy or commodity, he would be happy to document this. I believe this is what is needed. I would like to ask the Minister if there is some possible way, after all the consulting work is done, there would be a document identifying each aboriginal group's traditional knowledge, for instance, the Inuvialuit, the Gwich'in, the Dene in general and the Inuit. If there was some way of documenting this traditional knowledge so it would be accessible to the government departments in general. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I think if some of the aboriginal organizations, for instance the Inuvialuit, are prepared to document and publish an article or a piece of literature that speaks the tradition of the Inuvialuit or any other First Nation, if the aboriginal people themselves say yes they are prepared to do it and they want our support to help them do it, we would be prepared to do it. Thank you.

My last question, Mr. Chairman, if this knowledge was documented in that fashion, would it then take the strain off of this government as to having to fund the research for this type of traditional knowledge information?

Thank you, Mr. Chair. It is my view if the aboriginal people want to print or provide for public information purposes or education, a publication on the traditional knowledge within themselves or to give some illustrations what traditional knowledge means, if they require funding for it, we would be prepared to look at supporting such projects. I do not know if it will then diminish any sense of responsibility we have for any future funding that may be required in the area of traditional knowledge. I do know there have been a number of research activities that have taken place over the years in a number of sectors that have not involved local or aboriginal people which, in spite of hefty amounts of money being expended with very credible scientific people being authors of them, have long since been shelved without any benefit being derived from them, namely because the connection had been made with the aboriginal people or the local communities on which the research was being based in part. Again, I go back to the point I made about an hour or so ago. I think it is a necessary way of doing business. If there is nothing of particular relevance that needs to be engaged in their traditional knowledge on a particular project, that is fine. That is for us to determine. We have to accept it as part of business. If we move into somebody else's house, then it is necessary and protocol that we should ask that person who was there before us about their knowledge and their awareness of the house before we do anything. It is more economical. That is efficiency. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Under the area of corporate management, could the Minister indicate or expand on the role of strategic planning? It seems to have an economic function. I was wondering where the other mandate of the department, in terms of resources and wildlife environmental issues, would come in the area of strategic planning for the department?

Mr. Chairman. Mr. Gamble, the deputy minister, will take that question.