Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, during these times of economic expansion it is easy to forget one of our first economic ventures, the fur industry. Trapping is still important for seasonal income in our smaller communities.
Recently there has been some good news for people working in the fur harvesting industry. Fur prices are rising. Prices for wild fur harvested throughout the Northwest Territories are the highest in several years. For example, marten sold at an auction in February for an average of $85 per pelt, about a 40 percent increase from last year. The average price for Arctic fox pelts was $26 per pelt, about four dollars more than the previous year. The Government of the Northwest Territories' Fur Marketing Program under the Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur brand has experienced a banner year in fur sales to date, with virtually all pelts offered being fully sold.
The demand for fur fashions seems to be reviving as well. Arctic Canada Trading Company, a subsidiary of the NWT Development Corporation, has begun marketing and exporting a promising new line of fur garments highlighting Dene designs and Genuine Mackenzie Valley furs. This line was extremely well received at the Team Canada trade mission in Dallas. Initial sales of the line have reached $60,000, with more sales on the horizon.
This government wants to capitalize on these recent developments. Two recent programs offered jointly by the Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development and the NWT Development Corporation are ensuring there is an adequate supply of smoked hides and furs for arts and crafts producers in the Northwest Territories. To date, $200,000 has been committed to these initiatives. Due to the ongoing demand for these programs, a further $80,000 is being injected into these programs by the department this fiscal year.
Trapper training is a major element in revitalizing the traditional economy. The department has recently put together a core of certified trapper trainers. A resident trapper trainer is located in each region to ensure trappers are kept current with technology and market demands. I would like to congratulate our six resident trapper trainers on successfully completing training programs with the Fur Institute of Canada. The trainers are
Danny Beaulieu, Wilfred Jackson, John Charlie Junior, Sholto Douglas, Edward Cholo and George Tatsiechele. They are excellent role models for the fur industry in the Northwest Territories.
Mr. Speaker, strengthening and increasing the number of trappers is critical to sustaining the industry and to reinforcing the positive social and cultural values attributed to maintaining a healthy productive lifestyle. We will be making significant investments in trapper training during the next year.
The Take a Kid Trapping Program is a new initiative that will promote and provide training in life skills for young people in kindergarten to grade 6. The program is designed to provide students with an introduction to the fur industry and offers them an opportunity for "hands-on" experience outside the classroom. A separate program, geared towards young people in grades 6 to 12 or those outside the school system, will provide opportunities to get involved in the traditional economy. The department is actively seeking out partners for this program. These programs can help to prepare students who may participate in the on-the-land experience programs provided through the Department of Education, Culture and Employment.
We will also be investing $65,000 towards the purchase of new trapping technology that will meet and/or exceed trapping technology requirements currently imposed on the industry. Through this investment we will make significant strides to guaranteeing the survival of the fur industry for generations to come.
We will also be investing in the establishment of a new trapper training centre in the Sahtu region. The centre will provide traditional life skills and trapper training to people in the region. We will also be making improvements to our current training facility at Bliss Lake in the North Slave region.
Mr. Speaker, I hope these initiatives will help us revitalize this very important part of our economy and history. A strong traditional economy can provide many opportunities and a prosperous future for many residents of the Northwest Territories. Mahsi, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause