Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. (English not provided)
Mr. Speaker, when the Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Mr. McLeod, gave his Minister's statement in the House during this session, I was glad to hear him say the co-management boards established under land claims agreements have the primary responsibility for wildlife management in their settlement areas.
Mr. Speaker, before anyone starts any research, identification or monitoring on Tlicho lands, chapter 12 of the Tlicho Agreement specifically states that proposals have to be submitted by the Wekeezhii Renewable Resources Board for their review before any activity happens on the land. Mr. Speaker, government should also be talking to Tlicho elders before any major decisions are made.
Environment and Natural Resources should be talking to the elders, not just the wildlife biologists, before they come onto our land to monitor caribou herds. Mr. Speaker, traditional knowledge is respecting Tlicho. Any decision made without consulting the elders will not be respected by us as the Tlicho Government. Mr. Speaker, specifically, the elders need to be consulted about the wolves and the increase in population in our region. I have stood here before this House and talked about the people in the Tlicho communities and their concern about how close the predators are coming to them and how they are concerned for their children's safety. Mr. Speaker, we are worried that it is only a matter of time that the wolves start attacking our children.
Mr. Speaker, I must stress again the need for ENR to work more closely with the elders before any final decisions are made about the caribou and other issues such as predators before any decision is made. Mahsi.
---Applause