...Mr. Speaker, and the book is on the Sahtu. I was thinking about the discussions we’ve had the last couple of days about the caribou. In this section, page 46 or so, there’s a discussion about the caribou from the Sahtu perspective. In one of the stories the elders have told, there is a story about near Aklavik there was a discussion, the elders say, about some animals. It was a story about the wolf and the caribou that came together and they were discussing how they were going to live together, Mr. Speaker, and they came to an agreement that the wolf would allow the caribou to live, not wipe out the caribou. That process, I looked at from the caribou and the wolves’ perspective and the elder’s story was a process of consultation where they come to discuss certain things and they come to an agreement. That’s the process of consultation in the old days, Mr. Speaker.

Today we have different versions, different definitions we use in terms of consultation. The aboriginal leaders have their definition, the federal government certainly has their definition of consultation, the territorial government has their view of consultation and the aboriginal elders have their view of consultation. Mr. Speaker, even the courts have weighed in regarding consultation. There is the Sparrow test in terms of certain rights that aboriginal people have.

Mr. Speaker, what I want to say in terms of consultation and going forward with this type of issue that is before us in the House here, it has brought forward many passionate views, different views on how we look at things on the land. It’s good because this important issue is being discussed during the House and gives the people an opportunity down the Mackenzie Valley how we need to work together amongst ourselves, what things need to come together for the survival of this herd, also survival of the aboriginal culture and people of the Northwest Territories.

Northerners are known for working out very important issues, issues that are very important, and the principle of the caribou and the people of the Northwest Territories. I wanted to ask the Minister some questions at the appropriate time. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.