Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, youth involvement in the management of Northwest Territories forests is an issue that merits some attention. The forests of the Northwest Territories have sustained First Nations for thousands of years. They have fed, sheltered, clothed, transported and healed them. The transmission of knowledge about the land is the responsibility of the elders and the teaching begins when one is very young.
The youth learned how to live and care for the forest. The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development has expended some forest fire management dollars in the past to deliver fire ecology camps in some regions. Mr. Speaker, I believe that five such camps were run in the Northwest Territories last summer. The purposes of the camps, Mr. Speaker, appears to be to get the youth involved in seeing the effects of fire on the forest.
The camps ran ten days in duration and involved ten to 15 youth from selected communities, and usually they are from the same communities year after year. There does not seem to be any opportunity for the youth from my constituency to be involved in forest management education programs of this nature.
Mr. Speaker, while it is good to know that some interest is being paid to the issue of youth involvement and development by the department, I would encourage the government to look further than the current program. I have learned about the existence of an Aboriginal Junior Forest Ranger Program that was developed in Ontario by First Nations and the National Aboriginal Forestry Association. The program is designed to develop leadership skills and to introduce youth to career opportunities in forest management. There are other youth corps-type programs in Canada that allow youth to gain exposure and experience through work practicum in forestry and environmental management.
Mr. Speaker, I would encourage this government to look at all options for providing youth programming and to ensure that all youth in the Northwest Territories gain an equal opportunity to participate in working, learning and caring for the forests.
Mr. Speaker, I will be asking questions to the Minister of RWED during question period. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
-- Applause