Thank you, Mr. Speaker. There is a bit of a story to my Member's statement today so I will begin by saying this is a special time for many residents of my riding of Inuvik Twin Lakes who engage in the art of trapping muskrats and beaver. Many enjoy the cold morning wind chill as they travel to the lakes of the Delta. Here they shovel the snow off the muskrat-pushup, and break open the door. If it's a live house, the trapper proceeds to set a rat trap. The trapper closes the push-up with lots of snow so it doesn't freeze. Later in the evening, it's time to visit the traps, and the trapper repeats this practice day after day.

Mr. Speaker, this is a familiar story for this time of year in the Mackenzie Delta. The people are out enjoying what is a custom for many of us. Mr. Speaker, it's not only about the trapping of muskrats that makes life so enjoyable, it's about families participating in this seasonal lifestyle. The trappers refer to it back home as "ratting season." If I may, Mr. Speaker, my friend would come home and talk about nothing but rat, rat, rat.

Mr. Speaker, there is also a nice history to this tradition. It's about being out on the lakes making a nice fire, having hot tea with bannock and Klik. Mr. Speaker, besides getting a nice windburn, we also have the wind that blows the campfire smoke into your face, which forces you to move your branches. Mr. Speaker, there is a moral to this story and there is only one Member in this House that can tell it and I am certainly not that one Member. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

---Applause