Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, as a Dene from Nahendeh, moose is also a very important commodity among the Dene of the land where I come from. Mr. Speaker, when I was raised out on the land, many times during my childhood there were great expectations and excitement and appreciation when someone from your camp was able to get a moose. The moose provided many things, mainly food, fresh meat and dry meat. Even today when I travel to my constituency and I am lucky to get some dry moose meat, it is consumed immediately by everyone who finds out about it. Every part of the moose is very important. The head is consumed, the tongue, nose, some parts of the guts and the stomach is also a delicacy among the Dene. The marrow from the bone from the hoof is also a delicacy with dry meat. It is also made into a pounded dry moose meat and marrow mix.

The moosehide is used for clothing. Moccasins, work shoes, moosehide vests and jackets we see here in the Legislative Assembly are also being made today. The raw hide is also used for rope and string to use out on the land.

Today, the people of Nahendeh, in my riding, still continue to hunt moose and still consume this meat to supplement their food on the table. Today, the hides are also being produced traditionally in all of the communities of my constituency, however, there is a need to encourage and support the continuation of the art of moosehide making. I agree with my two honourable colleagues in this House who spoke earlier about this very important area.

Mr. Speaker, if our responsibilities of running this Legislative Assembly did not have us here today, I certainly would be out on the land hunting moose with those who are lucky enough to be able to get away to enjoy our land, especially this time of the year. It is a very good time of the year, when it is not too cold and it is great to be out on the land. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

--Applause