Mahsi, Chair. We'll go in detail pretty soon.
---Laughter
I just have two comments on the general statement. That is the area of the traditional economy. It's been talked about on numerous occasions, or actually for several years now, about the need to improve in this area. I was delighted to see it's been recognized from the department to go even further with a Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program and also the initiative like the Take a Kid Trapping Program, which is a real successful program in the communities. Although it's new, we've been doing that in the Tlicho region for a number of years now and it has been a real true success. I think that's where a huge investment is in the youth. We really need to promote that. I was really delighted to see that here. I guess at the same time I guess we'll probably go into further detail on that, but I didn't see any new or increases in funding towards this area, but those questions will be arising later.
Just a comment on the fuel price Mr. Pokiak brought up before. The traditional economy provides secure, stable source of food, fuel, shelter and clothing. The fuel price goes up quite frequently, as we've seen it, and the price of even the funding should also increase at the same time. I'm not sure if it's been highlighted, but I would like to see that during our detail information.
Just getting back on this take a kid trapping, there's a recognition in all schools and even in the communities, not just schools, but community members also take on the initiatives. We also have to keep in mind that there should be additional recognition. I know it's happening through this Genuine Mackenzie Valley Fur Program where we're recognizing trappers and hunters in the regions, and I was delighted to see some Tlicho members being awarded. I think they were awarded a gift certificate and also a jacket, which was great to see because even a small token like that goes a long way for community members. The community members cannot afford those kind of jackets, special jackets. But I think we need to go even further with that. Maybe the department would consider down the road or even talk about it. Then there's been a lot of talks in the community about recognizing the long-term hunters and trappers, or even specifically in the Tlicho region we have trappers that have been going out for the past 20 or 30 years, the same trappers and they haven't been recognized to date. So that individual's family members came to see me and talk about those kind of issues where we need to recognize that.
Just going along that line, recognizing those long-term trappers, probably by top prize or long-term trappers, whether it be a McPherson bush tent, or rifle, or a snowmobile, whatever the case may be, I think that's one huge investment to the trappers. Even promoting more of the culture program in our regions. Along that same path would be like categories on martens, wolves and bears because what's been introduced in the House yesterday, or two days ago, was the decline in caribou and we talk about the wolf kills where there's an increase in wolves and bears. Now we need to focus on that, as well. I think that those are questions that I will be coming out with in the detail.
So I'd like to talk about the next item, and that is supporting artists and culture performance at the Canada Winter Games. It's great to see that, but, at the same time, I think we need to include, as Mrs. Groenewegen pointed out, the cultural artists that we need to highlight in these events. Like there's been trips to Japan, Germany, in the past and we tend to see, at times, the usual groups that go on these trips. I would like to see some elders that
can go out there. You know, usually what happens is when an opportunity arises such as this, such as carnivals or Arctic Winter Games, community elders prepare and stack up for those special events and then they have their whole gear coming to Yellowknife or wherever the place may be, and they very much like to promote and sell their products. That goes to show that like the beadwork or the woodwork, whether it be snowshoes or drums, it's a highlight of the culture in the North. Also, when they go down south -- because Yellowknife is a major centre for the communities -- when they're out here they like to show their products and also they like to be there and do the beadwork or making snowshoes, those small snowshoes, and they're proud of that. They like to show young people, from birch to how the true snowshoe came about. So I think I would just like to highlight that because I didn't see that in the artists and culture performance. I realize there are two distinct differences, but I think cultural artists should be in the performance, as well.
Mr. Chair, I will have some questions later in the detail. Mahsi.