Thank you. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Yeah, that's why it's really important to have Tlicho region so that way we know how much money is being spent and what are we doing with program and services, so. And I know that there are a lot of people in my region they inquire -- they've been asking about getting into tourism business but the liability and for insurance, it's too costly for a lot of them. So I just wanted to know what is the department doing working with the local people to promote tourism for businesses?

Thank you. Minister of ITI.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, again, Madam Chair, would look to pointing again to the list of funding programs that are going to be provided to all Members. But perhaps I'll turn to the deputy minister and see if she can add something more specific at this point. Thank you.

Thank you. Deputy minister Strand.

Thank you. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you. Thank you for the information. I know that we're next to Yellowknife. So, you know, like we're losing out on a lot of opportunities, especially within tourism. And here we don't even have a tourism visitors centre. You know, because I know a lot of people are saying they each out to the people but we have nothing for them because it's not just Yellowknife, and then some people that -- people that come from the south, they go to Yellowknife and they get tired of Yellowknife but we don't have nothing to offer them in Tlicho region. So that's why I'm saying that, because a lot of people are looking for authentic experience. And even last year when we had 100-year celebration, we had a lot of tourism that were in Yellowknife that went to Behchoko when they heard about when we were having the celebration and they said yeah, like, we're tired; you know, like it's the same ole and they trying to reach out, go to other places, and as soon as they found the opportunity they went, they came and spent, you know -- like, they really enjoyed themselves. This is what I heard from some of them, and some of them were from Ontario, from the East Coast. So that's why I'm saying that, you know, like it would be nice. I would like to see this department, the Minister, to promote and to have a visitors centre in -- either in Behchoko or in Whati or the junction somewhere, you know. So that way the tourism when they're coming, we can tell them what we do have. But right now we don't have much to offer them, especially in our regions, because everything is in Yellowknife and Yellowknife is not the only place. We do need stuff too in the small communities. So that's why I'm just asking that, how come we don't have a visitors centre in Tlicho region? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of ITI.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, if the communities -- one of the communities in the Tlicho region are interested to work on some form of visitors centre or facility and, again, happy to receive that kind of a request. There's been a lot of work gone in to Whati to try to work with the community and decide what they may want in terms of tourism product or tourism opportunities. And my understanding is the Tlicho government has been taking the lead on these issues, quite rightfully, and happy to work with them on that. There's been a lot of money that has gone to the North Arm Park camping grounds area, including access to, you know, interpretive signage and boardwalks, etcetera. And, indeed, money has gone away from other projects in the North Slave region generally into the North Arm Park in order to get that done and to get it done early and on time. Community tourism coordinators would be another place I'd point, Madam Chair. There needs to be someone in the community and the community wants to have to have a community tourism coordinator, and that might help to advance more -- to put forward in a more advanced way what is available in an offer in the Tlicho community, because I mean, I think we'd all agree we'd like to see more but it will have to be Tlicho government led with us in support. Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you. Thank you, Madam Chair. Is there a timeline for the North Arm Park; when is it going to be completed?

Thank you. Minister.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I believe it is open -- at least largely open, to be this summer, Madam Chair.

Thank you. Member for Monfwi.

Thank you.

Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. I just want to talk about, I guess, the arts and one thing I still see that there's a need for is to secure naturally tanned hides for crafts and garments and those type of things. I'm just wondering what the government is -- or the department's doing to ensure that happens so that we don't have -- you know, don't have the artists having to go south to look for tanned hides that aren't from the Northwest Territories or are commercially tanned? Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of ITI.

Thank you, Madam Chair. So, Madam Chair, this is another area that I think what I may have to do is put this one on my list for our shared multi-department sit down between the LNR departments. ENR does play, I believe, a lead role or a significant role in terms of accessing hides. There have been some pilot programs, I believe, over the last year or so, in terms of finding different ways to provide access to hides, and I have heard the different views from members of the community as to whether or not those were appropriate and culturally relevant. So as I say, I will put that on my list for a meeting and once we've had that meeting, we'll confirm with the Member what opportunities there may be going forward between the two departments. Thank you.

Thank you. Member for Hay River South.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Next question here. You know, I guess last week we had the agri conference here in Yellowknife. So I'm just wondering, you know, we talk about agri-tourism and that. How much interest is there by the Indigenous governments or persons or businesses, I guess, in providing that type of service? Because, you know, when I look at it, when I look at tourism, and it doesn't seem that's something that Indigenous people may want to do. So I'm just -- and I may be wrong, so I just want to be corrected if I am, to see if -- you know, how much interest there is. Thank you.

Thank you. Minister of ITI.

Thank you, Madam Chair. Madam Chair, I can't say on the perspective of what Indigenous governments' view on it might be. What I can speak to a bit more is with respect to the foraging and harvesting opportunities, you know, for example Ecology North, I believe, has been running tours out to do harvesting walks or foraging walks here just in Yellowknife. So to the extent that these are the people who understand and know the land the best, I would think those opportunities are there. Whether they want to commodify that and turn that into a tourism product, again, there is funding opportunity for mentorship, for mentor training, and then to market their products through NWT Tourism. And it's just a matter of connecting those opportunities should people be interested in doing so. Thank you, Madam Chair.