Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to address the topic of moosehide. Moose hide is the pride of the Dene culture. It is the source of traditional life for aboriginals. It is used for survival, ceremonies and festivities. The moose is a majestic animal and has been a symbol of economic survival in the Dene culture for generations. As the world around it has changed, the moose has adapted to its surroundings. In this, it is very similar the Dene of the north.
Mr. Speaker, anybody in the north, the Americas, or the world, will take notice of someone who is wearing their traditional aboriginal clothing. For the Dene, this clothing will usually involve the use of moosehide. Today, the practice of wearing traditional clothing, such as jackets, moccasins, mukluks or gloves and mittens, is not something we see in everyday life.
One concern to me, as I am sure it is to others, is the shortage of raw materials to make our traditional clothing. Mr. Speaker, I am not saying that moose is an endangered species. However, I do say the endangerment is that Dene people have fallen out of the traditional practice of using all parts of the moose. It seems that the meat is taken while the hide and other non-edible parts are being discarded.
Mr. Speaker, it takes a lot of time, effort and skill to treat a moosehide for use in clothing. Fortunately, everything needed for this treatment is found in the moose itself. Bones can be boiled down and the liquid used to soften the hide. The shinbone of the moose is a perfect tool to scrap the hide and the sinew can be used as thread. The moose provides us with everything we need to continue producing our traditional clothing.
This, Mr. Speaker, leads me to my second concern. The lack of interest in our young people to wear our traditional clothing, let alone learning how to produce these beautiful pieces of art. When I was younger, children used to take pride in receiving products made out of moosehide. They would be given at special times, like Easter, Christmas or in the summer holidays.
Today, Mr. Speaker, it disturbs and saddens me when I see the younger generation taking more pride in a jacket with a company or sports logo than in a moosehide vest. I urge this younger generation to look more closely at our traditional clothing and the pride that goes into making it. To look at what this clothing means to the continuation of our culture and traditions. A tradition this younger generation will be the guardians of one day. A tradition they will have to carry on or it will die out with the older generation. No one, Mr. Speaker, can correct this situation, or save our traditions, other than the people to whom the tradition belongs. Thank you Mr. Speaker.