Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, the GNWT's 2011 Caribou Management Strategy for 2011 to 2015 reports that in 2006, caribou tags for resident hunters in the North Slave region were reduced from five of any sex to two males only. In the following year, 2007, tags for outfitters to hunt in the North Slave region were reduced from approximately 1600 to 750. And by January of 2010, all hunting closed on the winter range of the Bathurst herd. A limited Indigenous harvest of 300, plus or minus 10 percent caribou, was established in December of 2010.

As a result, there is currently no commercial source of caribou meat in the NWT, which is concerning given the importance it plays in the diet of Indigenous people. With the rising cost of food, subsistence hunting has never been more important. For example, the cost of ground beef in 2020 ranged from $11 per pound to $21 in the Northwest Territories, which can only be higher now as COVID continues to impact the supply chain. Never has it been more important to establish stable access to country food than it is currently, particularly as rates of nutrition-related disease like diabetes continue to rise.

In the NWT, country food can be difficult for residents to access. If a hunter's harvest is confiscated, elders, children, and vulnerable people from their community may not have any traditional food for that season and could be at risk for going hungry.

Mr. Speaker, just look at yesterday's paper from News North with its large headline "Hunger, a Growing Concern in Hay River." And I know from listening to residents this is not just Hay River's problem but is widespread across the territory.

In addition to the issue of hunger, the hunting restrictions placed on Indigenous peoples creates a loss of culture. As less Indigenous people are able to hunt, the skills associated with the butchering, cleaning and scraping of hides, and the preparation of meat are lost. Raw materials for crafts and clothing become less available, and traditional knowledge is at risk. We only have to look at the legacy of the residential schools to see how quickly in one generation so much can be lost.

It is imperative that the GNWT continue to work with Indigenous hunters and organizations, that we utilize GPS technology and other modern methods to ensure that there remains access to this vital life source for our residents. Access to country foods will ensure the maintenance of good health and the continuation of traditional knowledge for generations to come. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.