Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I know Mr. McLeod touched on it, and I think it is the area in regard to the whole aspect of traditional knowledge and the use of traditional knowledge as a baseline data to be collected for information. I think that this government has stated that they are developing a policy or procedure regarding how traditional knowledge is being used and exactly how it can be used with regard to environmental assessment processes, or in regard to collecting information and data.

I think a lot of people in the North do not have the written skill. I think the whole aspect of traditional knowledge is to ensure that people who have knowledge that pre-dates scientific knowledge regarding the environment, the water, the snow, that it is a fundamental means of collecting that information, so that people, especially our elders, are able to participate in the different review processes.

I think that as a government, we have to establish a policy and we do have to ensure that we, even as a government, start using traditional knowledge as information that we can use when we collect information, and that we should ensure that we do live up to obligations regarding developments that are taking place.

I think right now, one thing that I do not see much happening regarding environmental protection or environmental monitoring or collection of baseline data is right now we are talking about pipelines, major oil and gas developments, but there is very little information by way of establishing land use plans that some work has been done, but we do not have a library of information that we can use or can present through public hearings or information that communities may be accessing because of the information that has been given, but it is either stored or not catalogued in a place that it is usable.

I think that as a government we do have an obligation to ensure that we not only look at scientific data, but we also look at traditional knowledge and other information that has been compiled, either by communities or by cultural groups regarding social and cultural institutes, and be able to use that information in regard to developments that are taking place and present that information on behalf of the people of the Northwest Territories to ensure that we do have a reflection of environmental reviews, process and also the regulatory processes that are out there. So that we can ensure it better reflects the Northwest Territories regarding the information that we use. We do not say that we do not have the information or we do not know that the information is there or that we even make an effort to find that information and ensure that it is being catalogued and compiled and that it is usable.

What is the department doing to ensure that the traditional knowledge of regulation or policy of this government is usable and people are using that information in regard to what studies or research is being carried out, either by this government or by the regulatory regimes of the Northwest Territories?