As Alexie prepares to set off March 2 on a 10-day trek retracing his Gwich'in ancestors, he expresses his affinity with the land -- an connection he feels many young people need to be more exposed to.

And the land is not as pristine as he remembers.

Alexie says when he was a pilot on a boat 25 years back, he saw one of Shell Oil's drilling sites. When they left the campsite, they buried everything.

"About three years ago it started showing up with the banks caving in and I took pictures," Alexie says. "This kind of stuff we don't want."

This sentiment holds true around the territories, especially areas which are not officially "protected areas."

In Fort Resolution, for example, three protected-areas strategy fieldworkers have been going door-to-door to hear concerns from each local person since December.

"A lot of people in this community are concerned about hunting and trapping and whether their traditional areas will be protected," fieldworker Julie Biscaye said.

One visioning workshop was held Jan. 7 through 9 in the Antoine Beaulieu Memorial Hall where the turnout was good considering frigid temperatures inside the hall.

Another will take place March 9 through 11 at the same location.

Some concerns documented so far include land claims, wildlife, migratory birds, commercial fishing, forestry, hunting and trapping areas and parks.

Once the survey is complete, a final detailed report will be drafted and possibly made available at the March workshop.

To increase awareness of development issues, Biscaye said the group will film a video available in Chipewyan for sure and possibly even English.

The fieldworkers are asking local hunters to provide their knowledge of wildlife habitats.

"People here understand development and that's why they want their areas protected," Biscaye said.

"There are people here involved in tourism who want the areas protected too."